CRISPY COCONUT BISCUITS

CRISPY COCONUT BISCUITS

Cookies or Biscuits, Biscuits or Cookies, it is an unending discussion continues since centuries. There is not much difference between both. In America the name biscuit is not found, instead, they use cracker or cookies. In British dominated areas and Great Britain itself, these are called biscuits.

I would like to discuss the difference and history of both later in any other Cookie or Biscuit post.

So we are going to start our biscuit baking with the name of ALLAH ALMIGHTY.

The recipe yield is 24 biscuits and total preparation time 35-40 minutes.

 WHAT WE NEED:

1. 1-1/2 Cups Coconut (Powdered or Grounded)
2. 5 Tablespoons Butter
3. 3/4 Cups Sugar
4. 1 Egg (Large)
5. 3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
6. 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
7. 1/2 Teaspoon Coconut  Extract
8. A pinch of Salt

OUR METHOD:

1. Preheat Oven to 150 C or 300 F or Gas Mark 3.
2. Mix Butter and Sugar in a bowl and cream them by beating or whisking.
3. Add Egg and Coconut Extract. (If Coconut Extract is not available with you, use Vanilla Extract)
4. Sift and mix together Flour and Baking Powder and add it to the Butter mixture. 
5. Knead this mixture to form a Dough and let it rest for one hour in the Refrigerator.
6. Roll the dough on any flat surface and cut the biscuits of any shape you like.
7. put the biscuits on a well greased Oven dish, use parchment paper it is available with you.
8. Bake for 12  minutes OR till the sides seem to be turning golden.
9. Cool on a cooling rack or any other thing available with you which resembles a wire rack.
10. Enjoy warm or cold with your Tea.

Did you feel any FEAR OF FAILURE baking this biscuit? 

Thanks and hope you'll enjoy these Crispy Coconut Biscuits

InshaALLAH my next post will be CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN WINGS

NOVICE

BASBOUSA 

(Middle Eastern Sweet Delight)

INTRODUCTION:

Basbousa is a cake made with Semolina. It is a very popular dish in the Middle East. Muslims and Coptic Christians use it during their fasts. Muslims traditionally use it during the holy month of Ramzan. It has some other names in other regions but traditionally it is Basbousa. Also called Harissa, Revani, and Ravani in other regions.

It is also called an Egyptian Dessert as its birthplace is said to be Egypt.

It is baked like a cake with a small amount of sugar in the batter and after it is baked, sugar syrup with Rose flavor is poured over it immediately after taking it out of the oven.

In some recipes, Basbousa is baked again for 10-12 minutes after soaking it with the sugar syrup.

This dessert can be made with Eggs or Yogurt or both, as its leavening agent. So you have a choice here.

I have prepared this dish in two styles, once I baked it again after soaking it with Rose scented sugar syrup and again I made it without baking again.

The aroma of Rose arising from this dessert is really captivating that the family members become impatient to have it.

Here we are, going to start our preparation of Basbousa with the name of All Mighty ALLAH.

WHAT WE NEED:

For Cake

1. 2 Cups Semolina
2. 2/3 Cups Sugar
3. 1 Cup Yogurt
4. 2 Large Eggs
5. 1 Cup Desiccated Coconut 
6. 2/3 Cups Butter or Oil
7. 15-20 Almonds (peeled and blanched)
8. 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
9. 1/4 Teaspoon Yello Food Colour (Optional)

For Sugar Syrup

1. 2 Cups Sugar
2. 2 Cups Water
3. 2-3 Tablespoons Lemon juice
4. 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon Rose Extract 

HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT:

Sugar Syrup

1. First, we'll prepare our Sugar syrup by boiling sugar in an equal amount of water in a pan on medium heat.
2. Add Lemon juice in it and simmer it till it becomes a bit thick.
3. Add Rose Extract and douse the heat.
4. Cover and cool it.

Cake

1. Grease a rectangular 9-inch baking pan and set it aside. 
2. Now mix all ingredients except Almonds in a bowl and whisk them till combined.
3. Blanch Almonds and peel them.
4. Pour this batter into the Pan and place it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
5. Preheat Oven to 180 F or 350 C or on Gas point 4 for 15-20 minutes before taking out the batter from the Refrigerator.
6. Take out the Pan from the Refrigerator and make Square or Diamond shape cuts with a sharp knife in it and place an almond on each square or the diamond and place it in the oven.
7. Bake it for 35-40 minutes.
8. Keep the Oven running for putting the cake back in it for a further few minutes.
9. Take out the baked cake and pour the sugar syrup (now cold at room temperature) over the hot cake till it is completely soaked in it.
10. Put the cake back into the Oven and bake it for 10 minutes till it is golden.
11. After 10 minutes the Basbousa is ready to be enjoyed hot, warm or cold.
12. Can be stored in Refrigerator in cover for up to 3 days. I have used it for 5 days in the Refrigerator.

Hope you'll enjoy Basbousa with family and friends. I'll also post another recipe of Basbousa later with a little variety.

Practice it for the forthcoming Holy month of Ramzan and enjoy it at Saher or Iftar time.

Don't wait and make it without any FEAR OF FAILURE. 

INSHA ALLAH our next recipe will be Crispy Coconut Biscuits.

Thank you for visiting my Blog.

NOVICE

BACHELOR's DELIGHT SHAMI KABAB GHOTALA

SHAMI KABAB GHOTALA 

(A quick n simple dish for Bachelors n You as well)

WHAT IS SHAMI KABAB

We must learn what is a Shami Kabab before something about our Ghotala (Mixture) Shami Kabab is a small patty of meat more often of minced Beef, mixed with herbs and different spices along with Yellow Bengal Gram.

It is the very popular cuisine of Pakistan & India and used as a snack mostly. There are different versions of making Shami Kababs but main ingredients are same. As per legend, its origin belongs to Lukhnow when a Chef of a Toothless Nawab prepared this for his Master. The name Shami seems to be given because it was eaten as an evening snack. Another version says that the Word Shami is derived from the country Sham (Syria) as it is called in Urdu. During Mughal era in sub-continent, many people from the Middle East migrated to India for employment with Mughals and someone brought this dish to their Kitchen who belonged to Sham (Syria)

SHAMI KABAB GHOTALA:

Bachelors always face difficulties when they try to cook meals for themselves and mostly they go for Omelets but Omelets can not be had on a regular basis. This Shami Kabab Ghotala recipe will be a great addition to the great culinary skills of the bachelors.

I have personally spent quite a few years living alone and cooking for myself and sometimes for visiting friends.  During those beautiful days, I accidentally managed to prepare this Ghotala and it became an instant hit among my friends and visitors. So I am sharing the same here for not only Bachelors but for everyone.  

This dish can be made in addition to what already is available for dinner or lunch at home, one can simply take some Shami Kababs which are mostly available in Refrigerator, few eggs, Onion, Tomatoes and Green Chilies with very few spices.

It will be ready in 15-20 minutes at the most and guests will ask you for the recipe.

Come on, bachelors and ladies who want change in their Menu and make this delicious, quick and easy dish for yourself and the guests.

Let us start our cooking with the name of All Mighty ALLAH.

WHAT WE NEED:

1. 4 Shami Kababs
2. 3-4 Eggs (according to your taste)
3. 2 Medium size Onions
4. 4 Medium Tomatoes
5. 4-6 Finely chopped Green Chilies
6. 4 Tablespoons Oil (You can add more oil if the mixture seems thick)
7. 1 Tablespoon Red Chilli flakes (also as per your taste)
8. Salt to taste.
9. 1-2 Tablespoons Coriander leaves for Garnishing
10. 1-inch piece of Julianne cut Ginger also for Garnishing.

HOW WE ARE GOING TO TASTE OUR COOKING SKILLS:

1. Take out the Shami Kababs from the Refrigerator and thaw them to room temperature.
2. Chop the Onions, Tomatoes and Green Chilies.
3. Heat oil and cook the above on medium heat till tomatoes are soft and onions are translucent.
4. Add Salt and Red Chilli flakes.
5. Mash all things lightly so it becomes a mixture.
6. Now break the Shami Kababs coarsely and put them in the vegetable mixture, mix them thoroughly and saute for a few minutes.
7. Break the Eggs one by one over the mixture and don't stop mixing and using your spoon or spatula. Mix constantly until all the eggs are well mixed.
8. Judge the consistency of its thickness and douse the flame when you feel like it.
9. Put in a Platter or Bowl and garnish with Ginger, Coriander leaves.
10. Serve with Nan, Chapati or Paratha and even with Karak Double Roti.
11. I personally preferred Karak Double Roti.
12. Green or Red Chilli Chutney will also add to its taste.

HOWZAT?

Hope you like this quick and easy dish and try it at home without any FEAR OF FAILURE.  

INSHAALLAH our next recipe will be Traditional Middle Eastern Dessert BASBOUSA.










Thanks,


NOVICE

BASIC SPONGE CAKE

BASIC SPONGE CAKE FOR BEGINNERS

WHAT IS SPONGE CAKE:

Sponge Cake is a raised cake like Butter Cake or Pound Cake. People often confuse with what is the difference between a pound cake and a sponge cake. 

There are two types of a raised cake - Foam Cake and a Butter Cake. The foam cake has a high egg to flour ratio and is leavened by the beating of eggs or egg whites which create air bubbles during the process of beating. Butter cake contains fats from Butter, margarine or vegetable oil. Their leavening agents are Baking Powder and Baking Soda.

 The leavening Agent is also known as Raising Agent. It is any one of the substances which cause Batter or Dough to rise and become foamy by creating air bubbles and turn it soft and light.  Baking Soda and Baking Powder are known Leavening or Raising Agents.

The Sponge Cake is a Foam Cake and a Pound Cake is a Butter Cake.

Eggs, flour, and sugar are main ingredients of a sponge cake. Beating eggs create required air bubbles which while being baked raise and lighten the batter.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE INGREDIENTS MUST BE HAVING ROOM TEMPERATURE, SPECIALLY THE EGGS.

I chose this cake for my viewers because this cake is also meant to be a Basic Baking Cake, it has no special ingredients and nothing which make you visit the market and get that for baking it. I am still giving only those recipes which can be termed as BASIC.  We shall make cumbersome and difficult Cakes later along with various styles of Frostings etc.

Remember, my first recipe of this Blog was SIMPLE AND EASY VANILLA CAKE because I want the basics to be learned before going for the kill.

I baked this sponge cake in a cake pan which is Butterfly shaped and that doesn't mean it must be baked in that particular cake pan. I made it only to have a change. Any 8-inch cake pan will do, round or square, whichever is available with you.

Here we are going to start our Basic Sponge Cake with the name of ALLAH.

THINGS WE NEED:

1. 2-1/4 Cups Minus 2-1/4 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour (Maida)
2. 2-1/4 Tablespoons Corn Flour
3. 1/2 Cup Butter (Room Temperature) or Vegetable Oil 
4. 3 Eggs (Large)
5. 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
6. A Pinch of Salt (Chutki)
7. 1 Cup Milk or Butter Milk
8. 1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

HOW WE'LL BAKE OUR CAKE:

1. Pre-heat Oven to 180 C for about 15-20 minutes
2. Grease any 8 inch Cake Pan with Butte or Oil, if the pan is shaped like I used then sprinkle flour after oil and discard the residue. If it is a regular Pan then cut the butter paper to the size of the bottom and place it over the already oiled surface and also oil or butter the Butter Paper.
3. Put in 2-1/4 Cups of all purpose flour in a bowl and then take out 2-1/4 tablespoon from it and add 2-1/4 Tablespoons of Corn flour in its place.
4. Add a pinch of Salt and Baking Powder and sift them all together.
5. Add Oil or Butter and start beating it till it becomes crumbly (like Bread Crumbs)
6. Add Vanilla
7. Start adding Milk or Butter Milk little at a time and continue beating on medium or low.
8. Clean and scrape the sides of the bowl with Spatula.
9. Add eggs one at a time and continue beating till all is combined.
10. Put the batter in the pan and tap it on any hard surface to settle and level the batter.
11. Place the pan into the Oven for 35 minutes.
12. Check it by pressing a finger on top and if it comes back after removing the finger, it means the cake is ready.
13. You can also check it by inserting a toothpick or a sharp knife in the center and if it comes out clean enough, that also mean the cake is ready. Ignore if there is very little wetness.
14. Place it on a cooling rack for 15-20 minutes.
15. You can use a normal wire mesh used for placing the hot cooking utensil on it.
16. Cut the cake and enjoy warm.

Hope you'll try backing this very simple Spong Cake without any trace of FEAR OF FAILURE.

Thanks

NOVICE

SIMPLE VANILLA CAKE IN URDU ROMAN

NAYE SEEKHNE WALO KA PEHLA CAKE

Cake kaise banta hai, Cake banana bahut mushkil hai etc, ye wo jumle hain jo hamare gharo me aam use hote hain.  Cake banana koi mushkil nahi hai. Jis tarah hamare gharo me Rotiyan/Chapatiyan banai jati hain Europe me bilkul si tarah har ghar me Cake bake karna ek normal aor aam si bat hai. Yaqeenan, Cake baking ek Art bhi hai aur Science bhi lekin bilkul usi tarah Roti aur Chapati banana bhi Art and Science hai. Hamare gharo me bachiyo ko pehle Aata goondhna and phir Roti belna and akhir me pakana sikhaya jata hai jo ke itni asaan bat nahi ke Roti bilkul gol ho, naram ho etc.  Europe me cake bake karna bilkul aise hi ek aam bat samjhi jati hai and khawateen foran hi koi na koi Cake bake kar leti hain.

Europe ke bare se bare Cake expert Chef ko kahen ke wo ulte tawe ki chapati bana kar dekhade to wo nahi bana sakta. Aap baking se bilkul na ghabraen and Bismillah par kar shru karden, ghalatiyan roti pakane me bhi hoti hain and ahista ahista hath saaf hojata hai bilkul isi tarah aap baking bhi kar sakte hain. Isi liye hum ibtida ek bahut simple and asaan ckake se kar rahe hain, difficult cake jin ke sath decoration, designing and frosting hoti hai INSHAALLAH hum wo bhi zaroor banaenge.

Me ne apne Blog ka start is Simple Vanila Cake se kiya and maqsad ye hi tha and ab bhi hai ke aksar gharelu khawateen ek do dafa cake banane ki koshish karke phir is liye chor deti hain ke ye bahut mushkil kam hai, kabhi cake jal gaya to kabhi kacha rah gaya etc.

Simple Vanilla Cake aap ki baking ke liye pehla tajarba samjha ja sakta hai. Aap pehle ye cake bake karlenge to is ke bad InshaAllah aap ko baking easy feel hogi. Isi wajah se hum is asaan cake se ibtida kar rahe hain.

Is ke liye hamen bahut kam ingredients darkar hain and sirf 30 minutes baking. Tamam ingredients aap ke kitchen me hi mil jaenge.

ALLAH ka nam le kar hum ab apna simple aur basic cake banana shru karte hain:

BAKING KI BUNIYADI BATEN:

Sab se pehle aap apne ghar ke Voltage ko check karen ke wo sahi hai, agar voltage kam ya ziada hoga to wo baking theek nahi ho sake gi.

Aap ka dusra step ye hai ke aap apne Oven ke dials ya knobs (button) bhi check karlen ke wo sahi working condition me hain.

Ab aap Oven ko ON ki jiye and Electric Oven ko 180 centigrade par and Gas Oven ko 4 par set karke 15-20 minute ke liye pre heat karlen. Jab tak Oven garam hoga hum cake ki tayyari kar lenge.

Recipe ki tamam ashiya ko apne samne rakh len kiu ke ye bhi hota hai ke hum kuch bhool jate hain, is liye ye Ingredients samne rakh kar recipe me tick bhi karden.

Cake Pan ko niche and sides me oil ya makhan lagalen take bake hone ke bad nikalne me asaani ho. Mazeed sahulat ke liye aap Butter Paper ko mold ke bottom ke size me kat len and niche bichaden, isi tarah sides par bhi lagaen pehle se lage huwe Makhan ya oil ke ooper and phir is Butter paper par bhi makhan ya oil lagaden.

AJZA (INGREDIENTS):

1. 1-1/2 Cup Maida
2. 1 Cup Chini
3. 1/2 Cup aur 1 Tablespoon Makhan ya Vegitable Oil.
4. 2 Anday (bare)
5. 1/4 Cup Doodh (Optional/akhtiyari)
6. 1-1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
7. 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

TARKEEB:

1. Sab se pehle maiday me baking powder dal kar dono ko chan len and alag rakh den.
2. Dusre pyale me Makhan aor Chini ko achi tarah mix karen, Electric Mixer se, Egg Beater se ya Hand Mixer se jo bhi aap ke Kitchen me maujood ho.
3. Ab Chini waley Mixture me ek ek karke Andey tor kar dalen and beat karte rahen yaha tak ke mixture ka rang tabdeel ho kar pheeka hojae. 
4. Mixer ko band karke Pyaley ki sides ko saf karen.
5. Yad rakehn ke bahut ziada beating nahi karni, matlab ye ke Over Mix na ho.
6. Vanilla Essence mix karke zara sa mix karen and phir Maide wala khushk mixture 3 hisso me shamil karke (FOLD)karen.  (lakri ke chamche ya spatula se mix karen), jab tak ye amiza creamy na hojae. Total time 5 minute se ziada nahi hoga.
7. Agar chahen to ab doodh shamil karen ek ek tablespoon karke beting ya mixing bahut slow speed par karte huwe, agar shamil na karen to bhi koi problem nahi. Doodh se Cake ka zaiqa kuch aur acha hoga.
8. Ab cake ka mixture bilkul tayyar hochuka hai, aap is ko Cake ke Pan me dalen and phir is pan ko 2-3 bar counter ya kisi sakht sitah par tap karen ta ke mixture achi tarah level hojae.
9. Oven ke centre me Pan ko rakehn and 30-35 minute ki timing den.
10. Taqreeban 25 minute ke bad Oven ka door khol kar Cake ke bilkul beech me tez churi ya tooth pick dalen and nikal kar dekhen ke wo saf hai and us par gila mixture chipka huwa nahi hai to samjhen ke Cake tayyar hai nikalne ke liye.
11. Agar churi ya tooth pick zara si gili ho to bhi no problem, aap Cake nikal sakte hain, lekin agar bahut gili ho to abhi na nikalen.
12. Dusri bat note karne ki ye hai ke Cake ooper se golden hojaega and sides ko chorne lagega.
13. Cake ko bahir nikalen, Oven ka switch off karden.
14. Lohe ya Steel ki jaali jo ke garam Degchi ko rakhne ke liye hoti hai us par ye Cake Pan rakh den thanda hone ke liye.
15. Market me Cooling Rack ke nam se aisi jaliyan milti hain lekin aap apne ghar me maujood jali se ye kam le sakte hain.
16. 15 minute thanda karke kisi plate ya platter par pan ko ulta karke rakhen and ooper se tap karen lekin pehle churi ko pan and cake ki sides ki taraf ghumalen. Cake bahir nikal aega, seedha karke slice karen aur lutfandoz ho.

NOTE:

Fold karne ka matlab hai ke bahut slowly and aram se mix karna. Khusk ajza ko mostly fold hi karna chahiye, beating se over mix hokar result acha nahi aega.

Ab aap ka baking ka pehla experience is Simple Vanilla Cake ki shakal me tayyar ho chuka hai.

Apne dil se NAKAMI KA KHOUF bilkul nikal kar door phaink dein.

Thanks,


NOVICE