Thursday 23 January 2014

Indian Masala Tea..!





















I am a self proclaimed tea lover. Even I don't hesitate to declare that I am just addicted to it since my college days. It's such a refreshing drink which survives me in my most miserable moment even. Every morning, a cup of hot tea just recharges me and keeps me on for the whole day. Similarly, almost at the end of the day, when I am fully exhausted, it soothes me completely .In my family not only me, my husband is also very much fascinated to this drink. I generally store different types of flavored tea in my kitchen pantry and keep on experimenting with those with my one and only tea partner , my hubby dear. That is the reason I am going to create a different section in my food blog, where I will be posting various tea recipes.
As an Indian I am starting this with the recipe of Indian Masala Tea, Masala Chai. It is basically black tea, brewed with spices and milk. Even there are different types of Indian Tea masala. I don't like to use any store bought ready made spice mix rather I make it in my own way. Moreover I am very choosy in the matter of selecting milk and tea leaves for my tea. Instead of liquid milk I prefer to use powder milk for my tea. "Nestle EveryDay Dairy Whitener" is my most favourite milk powder brand and "Tata Tea Gold" is my most favourite tea leaves brand.

Here is the process of making my version of Indian Masala Chai.

Ingredients:


For two Cups of Tea:




  • Water: 2- 2 1/2 Cups
  • Milk Powder: 2 tbsp.
  • Tea Leaves:  11/2 - 2 tsp.
  • Ginger Paste: 1/4 tsp.
  • Cardamom Powder: 2 pinches
  • Sugar: 2 tsp ( adjust according to your taste)
  • Saffron Strands: A Few.



Process:




  • At first boil the milk in a deep bottomed pan. When it starts boiling take out 1/2 cup of boiling water separately.
  • Add 2 tbsp of milk powder in the water taken out separately and dissolve properly 
  • Now add the tea leaves and sugar into the boiling water and brew very well.Add the ginger paste and mix well.
  • Pour the prepared milk into the liquor. Mix thoroughly. Add the cardamom powder, Cover the pan and keep the flame low and simmer for few more minutes.
  • Strain the prepared tea with a strainer into the cups and add few saffron strands and serve hot.



    #
    Note: If you are using liquid cow milk, then take 11/2 cups of water and 1/2 cups of milk to make 2 cups of tea. 










                                Enjoy Your Tea.....!

Eggless Choco Chip Cookies...





























Cookies are my family's one of the most favourite baking stuffs but to be very frank, I don't like to make cookies with egg all the time. This is the only thing which refrains me from making them.  Therefore I was looking for a good  recipe with which I can make crispy, soft and delicious cookies but it should be without egg.After my different searches here and there, finally, I got one and with that basic recipe I made an effort to make Eggless Choco Chip Cookies. I didn't think that my cookies would be so soft, crunchy, crispy and delicious without egg even.

 Here is the recipe for my Eggless Choco Chip Cookies:


Ingredients:


  • All Purpose Flour : 1 Cup
  • Rice Flour: 2 tbsp.
  • Caster Sugar: 4 tbsp.
  •  Butter: 60 gm.( Keep the butter in room temperature)
  • Vanilla Extract:1/2 tsp.
  • Milk: 2 tbsp.
  • Baking Powder:1/2 tsp.
  • Chocochips:1/2 Cup



 Process:




































































  • Preheat the oven in 160 degree C or 320 degree F for at least 10 minutes.
  • Beat the butter and sugar very well with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the vanilla essence,milk and beat again.
  • Sieve the flour. rice flour and baking powder very well.
  • Gently mix in the flour and chocolate chips with butter using a spoon to get a soft dough.
  • Shape into small rounds .Flatten slightly.
  • Cover the back of a baking tray with aluminium foil and grease it with butter. 
  • Place cookies 1/2" apart. Bake in the preheated oven art 160 degree C / 320 degree F for 30 minutes.






                              Enjoy Your Food...!