Pineapple upside down cake

          Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake 

This vibrant cake has it all, the look, taste and flavors that make us want some more! I have made this cake use yellow cake mix and some simple steps, the result is a well baked cake :)

My hubby's birthday and you will be surprised he doesn't like chocolate, so I decided to make this pineapple upside cake. We went to an island for a picnic with friends and some hiking too :) It was a fun time and after having sandwiches and wraps , this cake was a delight to all!

Ingredients 
1 (16 oz ) yellow cake mix
2 Eggs
1/4 cup butter 
1/4 cup oil for adding to cake mix
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 (16 oz tin) Pineapple rings in their own juice
1 (8 oz) jar of Maraschino cherries (drain the juice)

Add light brown sugar to melted butter 

Pineapple slices and cherries 

Add prepared cake batter 

Baked Upside down  Cake 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake 

Sliced 

Method 
1. Cut out butter and add it to the bottom of the cake tin. Place pan in the preheated oven, till butter melts. Remove cake tin and spread light brown sugar over melted butter.
Evenly space the drained pineapple slices, you can add the drained cherries, at this point.
2. Follow the cake batter recipe from the cake box and prepare cake batter.
3.Pour the prepared cake batter all over the pineapple/cherries.
4.Place in the oven to bake as per instructions given on yellow cake mix box.
5. Remove from oven once baked. Place a plate carefully and turn the cake upside down and carefully remove from cake pan.
This step needs to be done quite soon as we remove cake from oven, or else brown sugar can get hardened and difficult to remove.
Cut in slices and enjoy with family and friends.

Roasted red bellpepper penne pasta

Here the pasta made may be similar to  other pastas we  made or tasted, but an  addition of roasted bell pepper takes it another level of taste, making it magical. Also this works like a one pot dish and serving it with some  chicken salad and garlic bread is all your friends and family need :)) so do try this recipe and I tried it and liked it ,surely you may like it too.


                                        

Penne pasta in roasted red bell pepper sauce 

                                            

Saute onions,garlic in olive oil

                                                                   

                           
                                                             

Add roasted red peppers 

                                                                                  

Pureed sauce 

                                                                                     

Pasta with garlic bread and salad 

1 Jar of 12 oz roasted red bell pepper 
500 gm pasta shells , personally like Penne but you can use pasta of your choice.
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 to 4 cloves fresh garlic
Salt to taste
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp Italian herbs
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup broth chicken or vegetable , your choice:)
Basil leaves for garnish
Parmesan cheese 

Method :
1. Fill a medium pot with 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, add pasta, salt and drizzle of olive oil and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, till pasta appears done. Strain and keep aside, reserve some of that water.
2. Heat butter over medium heat, in a large skillet, add oil. Next add in finely chopped fresh garlic, onions and saute over low to medium heat. Add to the skillet , roasted bell pepper and continue to stir 3 to 4 mins.
3.Next , add this to a  mixer and make a smooth puree , add 1/4 cup water if too thick .
Pour this puree back to  skillet ,add chicken or veggie broth , keep stirring  as the sauce bubbles add in herbs , grated cheese and some cream. Season with salt after checking the taste of the sauce.
Add drained pasta to this prepared  sauce, and serve with sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and finely chopped basil leaves.

Shredded chicken enchiladas

We enjoy Mexican food, its colorful and spicy. My husband makes very tasty enchiladas, and just last week he prepared these Chicken enchiladas in a red sauce and they came out delicious, so I thought why not share them with all, so follow these simple steps and enjoy them with your family too or friends :)) too



Ingredients 
1 packet foster farm ready shredded chicken package
1 tbsp all purpose flour
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano seasoning
1/4 cup chipotle adobo chilies 
Salt to taste
1 medium can enchiladas red sauce
2 to 3 finely chopped green chilies
1 cup sour cream 


                                    

Chicken enchiladas

Saute shredded chicken 

Arrange filled soft tacos corn and white tacos 

Pour prepared sauce over tacos 

Bake at 350 F

Garnish enchiladas with cilantro and dollops of sour cream 

Method:
1.Heat olive oil in a medium skillet , add flour stir for 4 to 5 mins, on medium flame. Next add in chicken / veggie stock, seasonings. Continue to simmer on low heat, Add enchilada sauce . Stir and allow the sauce to boil for few mins.
2.In a separate skillet heat 1 tbsp oil, add cooked shredded chicken. Check package, add seasonings if required, as  cooked chicken may contain some salt. Add some finely chopped green chilies for that extra heat .Cook for few minutes, close burner . Keep aside.
3.Now using a baking dish  pour  1/2 cup of prepared sauce.
Now take each soft taco, on a plate and spread some prepared sauce on surface of  taco, fill with a spoonful of prepared chicken, add adoba pepper as per taste, shredded cheese, roll the tacos and place seam side at the bottom of the baking dish, continue filling and rolling tacos and placing them, till all are done. Cover with remaining sauce and top with cheddar cheese. 

Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes. Remove sprinkle with freshly chopped coriander and a dollop of fresh sour cream.
For vegetarians you can use black beans,instead of the chicken, and use vegetarian stock.

Ambal and Lassi

Hi Friends and my dear readers, its always a pleasure to write for you'll and thanks so much for taking the time to read and share these recipes with friends and family.
My today's dish is called Ambal, a childhood favorite of mine. The first time I tried  this dish was when I visited my relatives in Jammu. 
Ambal is a famous dish made often in Northern part of India. It is basically pumpkin, cooked in a sweet and sour way  and  adding of methi seeds, during tempering  takes this dish  to another level of flavors. Very easy to prepare, yummy and  healthy too !!
How about a cool glass of refreshing sweet Lassi, another childhood  favorite !
Spices are easily available these days, either online or in Indian stores.


Ingredients:

250 gm pumpkin (Orange colored) peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 

1/4 cup soaked tamarind 

2 tbsp jaggery (available online or in Indian stores)

1/4 tsp methi dana ( Fenugreek seeds)

1 tsp ginger, chopped

1 tsp jeera seeds ( cumin seeds)

2-3 Kashmiri dried red chillies

1/2  tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp coriander powder 

2 Tbsp refined oil

Salt, to taste

1/4 tsp red chilly powder 

1/4 cup Water

Fresh Coriander leaves, to garnish

Ambal 

                                                             

Method:

   1. Heat a pan, add oil, for tempering, add methi seeds,cumin seeds, 2 dried red chillies,and ginger.
   2.Add turmeric, salt, red chilli powder. Saute for approx few  seconds.

3.Add  pumpkin and toss well. Add  tamarind and jaggery. Cook for 3-4 minutes on high flame.

4.Add 1/2 cup water, cover with a lid and cook (on a low flame) till pumpkin is soft and almost done.  Garnish with coriander leaves.

                                     

Lassi a north Indian yogurt drink, prepared by combining  plain yogurt, ice cubes, rose flavoring(available in Indian stores) very little water and sugar to your taste, I like mine with less sugar, so to keep it healthy! Just put all ingredients into a blender jar and blend for a minute or so, to give a nice creamy drink. Substitute with salt instead of sugar for a salty lassi, you can garnish with mint leaves too.

Again for mango lassi, all you do in this add mango pulp, check for sugar accordingly as mango pulp is usually sweet. Enjoy 

Bakeless granola bars

Granola bars, no baking how easy is that and also they are good for you. You can make it, take them along and the best part is its to your choice of ingredients ( I mean  why buy them at stores, when you can make them yourself, and to  your choice of whatever dried fruits and nuts you want to add)

Crunchy sweet and oh so good for you, so read this simple easy to make recipe and make your self ,and your family and friends happy.

Ingredients:

21/2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup chopped almonds

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips ( If your a chocolate fan or else you can substitute with coconut flakes)

1/4 cup mixed nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, raisins etc.. make it your choice of seeds

1/4 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup light brown sugar

4 tbsp unsalted butter

Cut out granola bars

Bakeless granola 

Method:

1. Using a baking tray lined with parchment or silver foil, toast  oats along with chopped almonds, for about 6 minutes at 350 F.

Take out of oven and stir them around, making sure they don't burn. Put Put them back in oven for another 10 minutes, remove  as they get light toasted. 

2.Pour these toasted oats almonds into a mixing bowl.

3.Heat a small pan add butter and melt it, over low heat. Add light brown sugar and vanilla essence ,close burner.

4.Add this melted butter to oats mixture.At this point you can go ahead and add some of the chocolate chips, don't worry it will melt and help to hold the bars.Mix in the nuts and coconut flakes.

I prefer to using a square baking pan, line it with silver foil, or parchment paper.

5.Pour  granola mixture into this  square pan, and press with a spatula to give it an even surface. Sprinkle the top with remaining chocolate chips. Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Remove the foil, and cut out even sized bars to enjoy!! 

Thanksgiving, and my favorite Pies!

Thanksgiving that perfect holiday before Christmas. The weather is getting cooler, with snow  and rain in many places. I love fall colors,  leaves change into beautiful colors during this time. New England has the most lovely natural display of fall trees, with yellow, red colors.
Not only nature, but also everyone gets into the holidays and gifting mood :)) and that is always exciting. But let me pause and speak for all, when we enjoy these treats  and feasts with our families, we should not forgot about those that need some support or donations to enjoy the Thanksgiving too.
So while we are thankful, we can express and share a little love to all.
The feast of thanksgiving can include some many different things, like pies , turkey, mashed potatoes, biscuits, corn and vegetable casseroles, with ham and bacon, and so much more that we can make and enjoy with our family and friends.
This is my share of recipes that I would be making as we like pies.
This year I decided to prepare apple., pumpkin and my favorite chocolate pie.
I like to use ready to bake pie crusts
Lets's start with apple pie, with easy to make step by step recipe.

Ingredients for Apple pie
8 apples, pealed and sliced. golden or granny apples your choice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp sugar  to sprinkle on top
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tbsp of all purpose flour 
2 tbsp butter
Pie crust 9 inch ready to bake available in stores

                                          

                                            

Apple pie

Ingredients for Apple 

Pie crust

Ready to bake

in oven

Apple pie with ice cream 

Method:
For pie crust you can buy ready to bake pie crust available easily in market.
I used the 9 inch pastry sheet.
First  for the filling , in a medium bowl,add sugar and mix with dry ingredients, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, toss in apples, add lemon juice and  mix gently and keep aside.
Next, line up a 9 inch bottom baking plate with ready to bake pie crust, trimming the  edges and making a design to give it a border frill.
Add  apples filling in the bowl,don't add any more liquid! top with butter. Roll out remaining pastry sheet to cover  apples filling. Trim and seal edges, and make slits on top to allow steam to escape while baking.
Brush the top, with milk and sprinkle some sugar for that extra sheen. Cover with silver foil and bake at 375 degrees F, for 25 to 30 minutes, till crust is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly. Allow to stand, for about 20 minutes before slicing the pie. Goes well when served with cream or vanilla ice cream!


Chocolate Pie
Another of my favorite pie, is of course chocolate pie. I mean who can resist the combination of smooth chocolate, with heavy whipping cream , that is fluffed up! I saw this recipe on TV and the next thing was like, I am definitely going to make this :)) and since then it has become my favorite. 

                                                                 

Chocolate pie 

                               

Ingredients for chocolate pie 

Add coco powder to sugar

Mix dry ingredients 

Prepare graham cracker base in pie dish 

Add fluffy whipped cream and sprinkle chocolate 

Chocolate pie 

Ingredients
For the crust
2 packs (approximately 14 graham crackers )
6 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar ( or you can use just plain sugar too )

For chocolate pudding ingredients
2 eggs separate the yolk ( you can save the white, I made an egg white omelette for my lunch :) using the leftover egg whites.)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 tbsp of coco powder
1 tsp vanilla essence
milk 2 cups ( I prefer to use whole milk, or at least 2 % for this recipe) 

For the pie crust, using a mixer, add graham crackers, grind to coarse powder, add melted butter. Cover the pie dish, with  this mixture, and pack the edges too. Use a measuring cup to press the mixture down, it works well.
Next, for the filling, using a sauce pan. Heat milk. Add cornstarch and stir on low heat.
In another bowl, add sugar and coco powder, add eggs one at a time.Add salt, vanilla essence  gently add this mixture with warm milk, continue to cook on low heat, making sure to stir it.don't over cook, stir gently for few minutes and close burner as pudding bubbles, 
Pour this prepared coco pudding mixture evenly into the already prepared graham pie dish. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours.
For the topping you can whip up 1 cup whipping cream, with 1/4 cup sugar. Whisk to form peaks,and then garnish the cooled pie with soft peak and you can add strawberries or soft chocolate curls as garnish too, along with the whipped cream.
Some like to use coco powder, whereas others even like bitter sweet, or plain chocolate for preparing the pudding, choice is yours :))have fun preparing this simple yet scrumptiously delicious pies, please yourself, friends and family!!

Creamy Butter chicken

Butter chicken or fondly known as Chicken Tikka masala, is a royal Indian dish, prepared by cooking chicken and cooking it in a creamy tomato based curry sauce, that is medium spicy and full of aromatic flavors that an Indian spices offer. It is a favorite and served in almost all Indian restaurants  in India and abroad.

My version is to prepare a  not too heavy curry, for that I want to stay away from using heavy cream  and onions. It won't compromise on flavor,  its lighter so you can enjoy more of the curry guilt free :))
For bringing out the flavors, try using fresh ingredients and spices that will enhance the taste of the dish.
This recipe was looooooooong due, so happy I could modify and come out with a more healthier  option, of enjoying this dish.



Ingredients 

2 pounds boneless , skinless chicken cut into approx 1 inch cubes

2 Roma tomatoes, pureed

1 tbsp canned tomato

1 inch ginger freshly grated

3 to 4 cloves garlic freshly grated

1/4 cup cashews ( soak in water, 10 mins and grind to make a smooth paste)

salt to taste

2 tsp garam masala

Spices 
2 big cardamoms

1 inch cinnamon stick

2 bay leaves

2 to 3 cloves

3 to 4 black peppercorns

2 to 3 small cardamons

2 to 3 dried red chilies

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp honey


Marinade  for chicken
Ingredients
1 tbsp sour cream or can use 1 tsbp plain yogurt
1 tsp each ginger, garlic paste
salt to taste
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil

Chicken marinade

Cook marinated chicken in a skillet 

Prepare the  sauce 

Cook chicken in the prepared sauce on low to medium heat covered

Butter chicken

Method:
In a bowl, add ginger , garlic paste 1 tsp each. Add salt to taste, 1 tsp red chilies powder, 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 tsp coriander powder.  Add chicken and marinate it for about 20 to 30 mins.


Method for preparing the sauce for butter chicken.
1. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a skillet, and cook the marinated chicken, on medium heat for about 15 minutes, till the chicken appears cooked. The real test to know if chicken is cooked from inside, is to make sure its white and not pinkish  in color on the inside.
Once the chicken is done, cover and keep aside.

Method for preparing the curry sauce 
1.In the mean while, heat another skillet, add  2 tbsp butter , add in freshly grated ginger, garlic. Allow that to sizzle, few mins. next add in all the whole spices, all of them. Stir few minutes.
Next, add red chilly powder, and cashew paste, continue cooking about  5 minutes or as the cashew paste comes together. Add in tomato puree, stir another 8 to 10 minutes, adding salt and garam masala.
Taste the curry and add more salt if required. add 1 tsp honey for that sweet tangy taste, and then add the  cooked chicken, into the prepared curry. Add 1/2 cup water and continue cooking, another 10 to 12 minutes till the chicken and curry appear thickened and done.
Add freshly chopped coriander leaves, or thinly sliced colorful peppers as garnish,

Spicy Black Pepper Chicken

Black pepper also known as Milagu, in southern states of India.This chicken dish is popular and made in the households of south India. Pepper and other spices are famous in this part of the country, there are many interesting plantations of them.
Peppercorns is considered a king spice in that part of India.
I came across this dish, when I saw it being prepared at a TV show. I liked how simple it was to make and that it can be served, as an appetizer or main dish.

  Ingredients:
2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken cut into 2 inch cubes.
Salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric
1tsp corainder powder
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp black pepper ( Milagu powder)
1 tsp each ginger ,garlic paste
3 to 4 green chilies chopped
3 tsp rice flour
2 tsp lemon juice
Oil to deep fry
1 tsp mustard seeds
6 to 7 curry leaves
2 to 3 dried red chilies
Fresh coconut slices (optional)

Method:
Marinate chicken in a bowl, with salt, red chili powder, coriander , pepper , turmeric. Add an egg, and ginger, garlic paste.
Add finely chopped curry leaves, and lemon juice. Heat oil to deep fry the chicken pieces, to a golden brown, frying them for 4 to 5 minutes. Strain on to a paper towel.
Next heat a medium pan, with 2 tbsp oil for tempering. Add mustard seeds, allow them to splatter.Next add in coconut slices , brown the coconut slices, add green chilies and sliced onions.Add curry leaves 2 to 3.
Then add in 1/2 cup water, and cover few minutes,  add in the fried chicken. Saute for another 4 to 5 minutes, serve hot . Enjoy preparing and eating this spicy chicken dish, with family and friends :)

Sticky Date Pudding with toffee sauce

This dessert is very special to me  and one of my favorites. In 2014 my family and my sister's family were having a holiday trip to the Great Barrier reef, Australia, where we got to enjoy this dessert together. We were delighted with the presentation and taste was just awesome. 
I always wanted to try making this at home, so when I came across this recipe, I decided to prepare it and was very happy to share this dessert with my family and  friends.
My son was so helpful in helping me make the toffee sauce, it came out delicious!
Do try out this easy dessert and wow everyone :))
The taste of this desert is unforgettable!!! 
First you bake date cake, and then prepare the toffee sauce using light brown sugar, butter , full cream and very little vanilla essence.

Chop pitted dates

Add baking powder and water 

Add baking powder to flour 

Beat butter and sugar

Add one egg at a time 

Add sieved flour 

Add dates 

Add mixture to a greased cake loaf tin

Prepare toffee sauce 

Sticky date cake with  toffee sauce 

Ingredients (For Date cake)
1 cup pitted dates, chopped 
1 1/2 cup water to boil  dates
1 stick butter 
3/4  cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2 eggs
2 cups flour 
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Ingredients (For Toffee Sauce)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup full cream
1/2 stick butter
1/2 tsp vanilla essence


Method
1. Take pitted dates and chop finely. Add water and baking soda. Heat for about 5 to 6 minutes till they appear softened. Close burner and allow to cool. Keep aside. 
2. Take flour , add baking powder and sieve, keep aside.
3. Soften  butter and brown sugar in a medium size bowl, using a wooden spoon or electric hand beater. As it appears creamed, start adding in  eggs, one by one and mix together.
4. Add in vanilla essence to  butter and sugar mixture. 
5. Add in  flour slowly and next add dates mixture.  Mix gently and pour this cake mixture into a greased cake loaf tin. Bake at 350 F for about 40 to 50 minutes. Check later by sticking in a tooth pick, that comes out clean showing the cake has cooked well from inside too.
6. Prepare toffee sauce by heat, butter and brown sugar, allow to bubble, slowly add in full cream and vanilla essence. Cook about 5 to 6 minutes and close burner as sauce bubbles.
7. Allow baked cake to stand for about 5  minutes, next using a fork pierce gently on the cake surface to make tiny holes. Pour 1/4 of toffee sauce over the cake. 
8. Keep remaining  toffee sauce, while serving the cake. Vanilla ice cream goes well too with this awesome dessert. The warm toffee sauce, along with warmed cake and cool ice cream , great combination. Enjoy !