2 QUICK & EASY CHRISTMAS TREAT

Guys Christmas is almost here and I have 2 quick, easy and no bake treats for you. Hope you enjoy it

1. Christmas candy cane and marshmallow fudge 

Not the most sophisticated of treats but it’s festive, fun and most importantly…delicious!

Time: 20mins + chill 

Serves: 20

INGREDIENTS

500g condensed milk

500g white chocolate, finely chopped

40g unsalted butter

1 tsp green food coloring

1 tsp peppermint extract

6 large marshmallows, roughly chopped

6 candy canes, roughly crushed

Directions

In a saucepan heat the condensed milk, unsalted butter and white chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir through the green food coloring and peppermint extract.

Pour the mixture into a greased and parchment paper lined square baking tin approximately 20x20cm.

Decorate with marshmallows and candy canes and leave to set in fridge.

Slice and serve or package in cellophane gift bags, tie with ribbon and give as a gift!

2. Christmas Rocky Road

These little rocky road squares are perfect to serve up to any guests this festive season. Bring some into the office and you’ll be everyone’s best friend!

Time: 15mins + setting time

Serves: 20

INGREDIENTS

400g of dark chocolate, finely chopped

200g of condensed milk

30g of butter

100g of dried cranberries and roasted chopped almonds

300g of white chocolate, half chopped, half melted

100g of digestive biscuits, roughly crushed

200g of mini marshmallows

Zest of one small orange

DIRECTIONS

Line a 20cm x 30cm baking tin with parchment paper. Save any parchment paper off cuts. In a large sauce pan melt the butter with the condensed milk. The second the butter has melted and mixed through the condensed milk, take it off the heat and stir in the chocolate until completely melted and combined.

TOP TIP

They are very easy to make just be sure to melt the butter and condensed milk low and slow.

Add in the cranberries, almonds, white chocolate, biscuits, mini marshmallows and orange zest. Stir with a wooden spoon until completely combined. Tumble the mix out into the lined baking tin and press down using the parchment paper off cuts. Drizzle with white chocolate diagonally across the tray. Cover and allow to set in the fridge for up to 1-2 hours. Slice it according to your choice 

4 Refreshing Ice Tea for "SUMMER"

In the dog days of summer, sipping a cold glass of iced tea is a heavenly experience. These 4 low-cal recipes will leave you refreshed and ready to battle the heat

1. Pomegranate and Lime Iced Tea

Serves: 8

Hands-On Time: 5 min

Total Time: 25 min

Ingredients:

8 cups boiling water

8 tea bags

2 cups pomegranate juice

3 limes, thinly sliced

1/4 cup sugar

Direction:

Pour 8 cups of boiling water into a heat-resistant pitcher. Add 8 tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes

Remove and discard the bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Stir in the pomegranate juice, limes, and sugar. Refrigerate until ready to use. Serve over ice.

2. Green Tea is Spiced with Ginger and Mint

Serves: 8

Hands-On Time: 5 min

Total Time: 25 min

Ingredients:

·          3 ounces ginger, unpeeled and sliced

1 cup mint leaves

6 green-tea bags

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Direction:

In a large saucepan over high heat, combine the ginger and 6 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and add the mint and tea bags. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes.

Strain the liquid into a large pitcher or other container. Add the honey and lemon juice; stir.

Chill in the refrigerator. Serve in tall glasses over ice cubes and more mint leaves.

3. Orange Iced Tea: 

Serves: 8

Hands-On Time: 25 min

Total Time: 15 min

Ingredients:

6 oranges, washed

1/2 Cup sugar

1 Cup boiling water

4 Cup black tea, chilled

Ice cubes

Fresh mint sprigs

Direction:

With sharp knife, cut peel from one orange in a spiral motion so it's all one piece. Cut spiral into 6 long narrow strips; set aside. Slice peeled orange and 2 unpeeled oranges into a large bowl. Add sugar; crush with large wooden spoon or bottom of a glass until sugar is dissolved. Add water; crush the slices again. Let steep 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and combine with the tea. Fill glasses with ice cubes and add tea. Garnish by twisting reserved peel around straws or dropping in the ice tea with a sprig of mint.

4. Rose Petal Ice Tea 

Serves: 8

Hands-On Time: 20 min

Total Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

3 Cup water

1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbs. rose syrup

2 Cups water

3 tea bags (quality black or green tea)

3 Tbs. granulated sugar

Few rose petal for garnishing 

Direction:

Bring the 3 cups water to a boil. Add the rose syrup and lemon juice then turn off the heat and allow it to cool down. Strain the rose water into a pitcher. Bring the 2 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat and place in the tea bags. Brew for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, and add the granulated sugar to the tea and stir. Allow this mixture to cool. Add to the rose water and stir. Serve over ice and garnish with rose petal

4 Places in Kolkata for the Burger Lovers:

Burger OR Hamburger is the most beloved food in the America, and has become most loved food worldwide. It’s delicious, ready to eat with the wide variety of different topping and serving method. Love Burger but you are bore with the KFC and McDonald? Then these four places are just truly paradise for you and for your love… ;)

Meat lover at Rubi’s Grill:  Surely paradise for the meat lovers. This beauty is their signature burger topped with ham, bacon and sausage

Location: 7/2B, Dover Lane, Near Dover Lane post office, Gariahat, Kolkata

Cost: Rs.500 for two people (approx.)

Cajun Chicken Burger at Chili’s: This Burger is Spicy Cajun style grilled chicken breast topped with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and smoky ranch dressing, topped with crispy onion strings.

Location: 4^th Floor, Quest Mall, 33, Syed Ali Amir Avenue, Ballygunge, Kolkata

              2^nd Floor, South City Mall, 375, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata

 Cost: Rs.800 for two people (approx.)

The Mexican Jalapeño Burger at Biker’s Café:   This lady is perfect for the vegetarian people. Crispy vegetable patty, jalapeño, cheddar cheese, churchy nachos, mayo topped with shredded lettuce, tomato & onion and served with California ranch dressing. This combination is ultimate love story for the foodies

Location: First Floor, Platinum Mall, 31, Elgin Road, Elgin, Kolkata 700020

Cost: Rs.600 for two people (approx.)

Pull Pork Burger at Burger You: This classic American Burger, the meat is slowly cooked and smoked then shredded or “pulled” and layered with house slough and BBQ sauce. You can add on bacon and cheese of your choice.

Location: 46A/1, New Ballygunge, Near State Bank of India, Kasba, Kolkata

Cost: Rs.400 for two people (approx.)

Whether you’re burger lover or not it sure going to satisfy your taste bud and leave your views in the comment section..! J

CRANBERRY MARTINI 

Christmas is almost here. This is an easy recipe with an unexpected sensational flavor, strictly for those who love the finer, more understated pleasure in life. If you’re after something bold and sweet like Cosmopolitan, then look away because the cranberry martini is smooth, subtle and guaranteed to make your Christmas party sizzle. Infuse the vodka with the orange zest and cranberries at least 2 days ahead. I like to use a vegetable peeler to make strips of orange zest—it's so easy. Best of all you can prepare the entire cocktail mixture and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. Just shake with ice before serving.

Level: Easy

Preparation time: 2days

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Sugar
• Zest of ½ orange, plus extra for garnish
• 1750 ml good vodka
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1/4 cup Triple Sec or juice of 1 orange
• Ice
• Few Fresh Cranberries for garnishing (optional)

Instructions:

Several Day Before: Place the sugar, cranberry juice, and orange zest in a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil, until the sugar dissolve. Pour the vodka into a large pitcher and add the cranberry mixture and store covered in refrigerator for at least 2 days

When read to serve, strain the vodka mixture and add Triple Sec or Orange juice for more tartness. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and the drink mixture, shake for full 30 seconds. (It’s longer than you think) and strain into a martini glass. Rub the rim of each glass with fresh orange zest, spoon few cranberries into each glass and serve ice cold.

APPLE SLICES WTH NUTELLA

Sometimes the simplest things are the best. This snack is no exception.  I don’t know if there’s much to say about these, other than when you take something great, add it to something better, and then roll it in peanuts (or another nut), you can’t really go wrong.  I made apple slices dipped in Nutella and then rolled in peanuts and I haven’t been the same since. The tartness of the apples paired with the chocolaty smoothness of the Nutella and the crunch of the peanuts extremely satisfying.

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ Pink Lady (apple) per person
• Nutrella or any other chocolate spread
• Unsalted Peanuts or chopped almonds or your favorite nuts

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Slice apples and remove seeds. Spread one side of each with Nutella and roll in nuts.

Gajar ka Halwa or Carrot Halwa

With the arrival of winters, the one sweet dish we all often crave for is Gajar ka Halwa or Carrot Halwa. Since winter season brings is laden with so many festivals in India like Dusshera and Diwali, Gajar ka halwa becomes a staple Indian dessert in most Indian homes. I must say that after gulab jamuns the one dessert that i truly love to have is carrot halwa. What can be more comforting than warm carrot halwa on a cold and frosty winter day!!

Gajar ka Halwa is basically a famous North Indian sweet desert pudding that is made from grated carrots which is slowly cooked in milk with sugar.

The carrots can be grated manually or in a food processor. Gajar ka halwa can be prepared in a variety of way using milk, khoya or condensed milk. For those who intend to make this recipe a bit quicker, they can prepare it in microwave or in a pressure cooker. But the slowly cooked halwa is beyond comparison. Since the halwa is simmered for a good hour or so, one should use always use a pan with a thick base or go for non-stick pan.

  Level: Difficulty    

 Prep time: 15 mins

 Cook time: 1 hr

 Total time: 1hr 15mins

INGREDIENTS:

• Carrots –  1 kg or 10 nos approx.
• Sugar – 2 cups (500grm)
• Boiled Milk – 3cups (600 ml approx.)
• Ghee (clarified butter) – 12 tbps (be generous)
• Cashew nuts -3-4 tbps chop the nuts
• Almonds (badam) – 10 (optional for garnishing)
• Cardamom Powder - 1tbps
• Khoya – ¼ cup

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Wash the carrots and trim their edges. Scrape the skin lightly and grate all the carrots using a grater and keep aside
2. Soak the almonds in some warm water for 15-20 mins and peel the skin and chopped them into sliver and keep aside
3. Heat the pan or uril and add 8tbps of ghee. When it became warm, add the chopped cashew nuts and roast over low flame till they turned into golden brown. Drain them completely and transfer to a plate and keep aside.
4. Now to the same pan add the grated carrots. Simmer the flame completely and sauté for 20- 25 mins. The color of the carrots would have completely changed and it would have gotten cooked completely. But the most important thing is to get rid of the raw smell of the carrots
5. Now add milk to cook the carrots and increase the flame to medium. Let the carrots cook in the milk till the entire mixture becomes dry. Keep mixing in between to avoid the carrots sticking to the bottom of the pan. This should tale 15-20 mins.
6. Now add sugar and mix well once you add the sugar the entire mixture would once again become liquefied or of loose consistency. The sugar would begin to caramelize the carrots and milk mixture and you can see that the consistency become sticky this should take 15mins.
7. Now add shredded khoya to this mixture and give a good mix.
8. When the halwa becomes dry add the remaining 4tbps of ghee, cardamom powder, roasted cashew nuts and mix well. Cook for more 5mins while mixing continuously and halwa come together in a mass. Switch off the flame and take off stove.
9. Serve hot in individual bowls and garnish with slivered almonds. 

NOTES:

1. Adding cardamom powder is optional
2. Always add sugar only after the carrots are fully cooked
3. Carrots in generally are sweet so adjust the sweetness accordingly
4. During the cooking process of carrots make sure the flame is medium low so you don’t burn them

·

KOSHA MANGSHO

For my Non-Bengali friends who have no clue about it let me explain a bit. KOSHA MANGSHO is an exclusive Bengali dish where mutton is slow cooked into a hot, spicy gravy and simmered into that thick rich gravy. Every regions of India has a similar dish but each recipe is different with their own exclusive spices and cooking techniques. 

So, here we go with the authentic "KOSHA MANGSHO AKA BENGALI MUTTON KOSHA”

 Level: Average difficulty    

 Prep time: 12 hrs 

 Cook time: 1.30 hrs    

 Total time: 13.30 hrs     

 Serves: 6 

Ingredients: 

1 kg goat meat cut into chunky pieces

For the marinade:

• 1/2  cup of hung yogurt or Greek yogurt

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 1/2  tsp coriander powder

• 1 1/2  tsp cumin powder

• 1 tbsp garlic paste

• 1 tbsp ginger paste

• 1 tbsp mustard oil                             

• 1/2 tsp sugar

For tempering the oil:

• 5 tbsp mustard oil

• 6 green cardamoms

• 6 cloves

• 1 black cardamom

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 inch stick of cinnamon

• 3 dry red chilies

For cooking:

• 3 large onions made into a paste

• 2 tsp of ginger paste

• 1 tsp of garlic paste

• 3 medium tomatoes, pureed

• 1 tsp coriander powder

• 1 tsp cumin powder

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 2tps ghee 

• 2 cups water

• salt to taste

• 1 tsp garam masala powder

Instructions: 

Mix all the marinating ingredients in a bowl and add the mutton pieces to it. Mix well and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Do not add salt to the marinade. When the mutton has marinated for long enough, take a pressure cooker and heat the remaining mustard oil in it. Temper the oil with the whole spices (about 30 seconds) and add the onion paste. When the onion turns slightly brown add the ginger and garlic paste. Sauté over medium heat for 4-5 minutes and then add the tomato puree. Cook until the tomato has turned a darker red .Add the cumin and coriander powder and cook for 2 more minutes. Now add the mutton pieces with the marinade. Mix well before adding the warm water. When it comes to a boil, cover with the lid and pressure cook until the meat is soft (takes about 20-35 minutes depending on the cooker).When the steam has escaped, open the lid and let the meat slow cook for at least 90 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle the garam masala powder and pour ghee just before turning off the heat. Serve with steamed rice or roti.

Tips: 

1.      Do not ever add salt into the marinade. Otherwise the mutton will release water and that will dilute the marinate