marshmallow clouds and award

Cookies from heaven!Not just because they're divine but too many of them and the angels will be that much closer(clogging arteries for eg.).It is NOT a dieters cookie(do dieters even eat cookies?or even any food?...apparantly 5 almonds is considered a complete meal by the slim ones!)I was mindlessly scrolling through some recipes when  this one jumped at me and I just HAD to make it......I changed the recipe a bit(I do have some residue of my college education left...nutrition and all)...the orignal is here

INGRDS

150 gms butter(butter makes things better........trust me)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 eggs

3/4 cup whole wheat flour(atta)

3/4 cup oats
3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup dark and white chocolate chips

1/4 cup cocoa pdr

1 cup frozen mini marshmallows(yes..frozen..put the marshmallows in the freezer)
METHOD

1.Beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy,add the essence.......now add the eggs and beat again.Add the flour...s,oats,cocoa pdr,chips.Beat again.

2.Take a tablespoon of this chocolatey goodness in your hands and put 2-3 marshmallows in the centre,roll in put onto a greased baking tray,get all the cookies ready this way.

3.Put in a preheated oven for 15-20 mins........these will still be a little soft,like gooey little cakes...coz the marshmallows peek out and melt...........YUM!
I recieved the Liebster Blog Award from Ambreen at http://simplysweetnsavory.blogspot. Her blog is really nice ,filled with absolutely delicious ,mouthwatering dishes....Do hop across and check it out.And also check out PT 's blog (Indian+Kitchen),she was kind enough to think of me too....and finally sharan of http://vigsha.blogspot.in/(sharan's smarayalarai,thought of passing this award to me too..........their blogs are really nice,filled with wonderful recipes.

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning; Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcoming.

The rules are :
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
5. Go to their page and tell them.
6. Remember, no tag backs!

Some random things about me..please read from here
1.What was the inspiration behind your blog?
I wanted to put down my recipes for my kids,they show no interest in learning anything today but they are fond of eating!
2.Which aspect of blogging do you find more interesting?
The interaction with the other bloggers and ofcourse some nonbloggers......it was amazing to realize that there are so many like minded people around,what was really nice was complete strangers extending their hand in friendship....you guys rock.

3.How many hours do you spend on blogging in a week?
I really can't answer that,if the net connection is there,I might be on my laptop for a long..long time...however I live in the hills,where even a slight breeze ensures that we loose the connection,maybe for days together....so thereby my time gets rationed(and I get to do other work!)
4.What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
Can't tell ....my kids will read this one day!
5. What quality do you most like in yourself and why?
 OK seriously I'm not answering this one....let someone else answer this.:)
6. If you were given a chance to undo one thing from your life what would it be and why??
Hmmmm...........nothing really.
7.Whats your memorable moment/favorite memory since you became a blogger?
Actually everytime I get a new follower or a new like on fb.....I feel thrilled.
8.What is your idea of a perfect breakfast?
Eggs and bread..and a big pot of tea.
9.What is your favorite pastime?
Reading.
10.Who is your favorite blogger?
There are too many to name out here.
11.If you had to describe yourself in 3 words ... what would they be?
I would love to say fun ,fearless ,female(heh..heh)but i'll go for the tags that apply.....mom,wife and me!
I would like to pass this on to
1.snehal at http://snehalscreations.blogspot.in/
2.cathleen at http://atasteofmadness.blogspot.in
3.punitha at http://southindiafoodrecipes.blogspot.in/
4.alida at http://myitaliankitchen.blogspot.in/
5.http://treatntrick.blogspot.in/
6.hema at http://www.hemasfood.com/
7.jehanne at  http://www.thecookingdoctor.co.uk/
8.http://www.spiceupthecurry.com/
9.PT at  http://jopreet.blogspot.in/
10.http://suchi-kitchenkarma.blogspot.in/
Please friends, accept the award and pass on to other bloggers :)
1.What was the inspiration behind your blog?
2.Which aspect of blogging do you find more interesting?
3.How many hours do you spend on blogging in a week?
4.What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
5. What quality do you most like in yourself and why?
6. If you were given a chance to undo one thing from your life what would it be and why??
7.Whats your memorable moment/favorite memory since you became a blogger?
8.What is your idea of a perfect breakfast?
9.What is your favorite pastime?
10.Who is your favorite blogger?
11.If you had to describe yourself in 3 words ... what would they be?

sundried tomatoes,garlic and olive focaccia and box

 Hi............this poor thing has been sitting in my draft for AGES!!!!!!!!!!Only because I completely forgot to take the pics of the uncut....baked focaccia......and uh...this happened a couple of times....but now...finally the day has dawned when I can put this post up.....................I'm also attaching some pics of a recycled box that I have done for snehal's event.....those guys are really good(crafters all of them!),this is just my humble attempt ...please don't judge me!

The sundried tomatoes I had sitting in my pantry,I had done those when the sun was nice and shiney(as opposed to now,when it can't make up its mind!)You can see it  here lazy-cooks-sun-dried-tomatoes.html.

INGRDS 2 cups plain flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp

5 cloves of garlic finely chopped

10 black olives stoned and finely chopped
1/2 cup of sun dried tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
150 ml lukewarm water
TOPPING
5 tablepoons olive oil
sundried tomatoes chopped
3 olives chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
METHOD
1.Mix together everything except the topping ingrds,make a well in the centre add the olive oil and water..........now mix thoroughly to form a soft dough.

2.Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 mins.Put the dough into an oiled bol and leave to prove for at least an hour.

3.Turn out the dough and knead lightly again.Roll out into an oval shape,about 1/2 cm thick .

4.Place the dough on a greased baking sheet,cover and leave to prove for 30 mins.

5.Pre heat the oven..........make indentations all over the top with your finger tips.......put the chopped tonatoes and olives and half the olive oil on top.Bake at 200 deg C for 25 mins...........transfer to a wire rack and spoon the remaining olive oil on top...........excellent when eaten fresh out of the oven....the next ay is going to see this get a little hard(but still good.....treat like a salty rusk!)
Now onto my little handmade box..... which is going to snehal's event at snehalscreations.blogspot...this is made with recycled stuff.....the box is what we buy act 11 popcrn in,the covering(?)is a handmade paper bag..which I cut up,the lid  and the rust coloured flowers had been donated by my friend and neighbour manisha(thank you sweetie)and all the embellisments have been taken from my daughters stash(love you darling!)....hmm....oh yeah..the effort is mine.

lazy cooks mango cupcakes

Hi guys.....we're drowning in mangoes..which is a good thing....I think it would be a very rare,thin person who doesn't like the king(why not queen?)of fruits.The mango is going in everything,salads,pasta(yes!..recipe soon),desserts,drinks and cake .I made cupcakes...but you can bake this like a regular cake(I just happen to LOVE cupcakes)
INGRDS
1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking pdr
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mango puree
1/2 cup oil
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM
whipping cream-1 cup
mango puree-1/2 cup
METHOD
1.Sieve the flour with the baking soda,baking pdr and salt.
2.Beat the oil,sugar ,eggs,vanilla essence and mango puree together(I used my handy blender)........pour this onto the dry ingrds...mix...then either pour into a prepared pan(buttered first,then dusted with flour)...or put the cupcake wrappers in the muffin pan...and fill each cupcake wrapper till 3/4th full.
3.Bake at 180 deg ,for 20-25 mins(cupcake time...........a cake will take longer)..till a skewer comes out clean(stick a skewer into the cupcake,and if it comes out clean ..the cake is done)
4.Take them out of the oven...and let them cool.
FROSTING
Whip the cream till soft peaks form(about 7 mins with an electric beater),now mix in the mango puree.Put into an icing bag fitted with a star nozzle and ice the mango beauties.
IMPORTANT

Keep refrigerated.........unless you're somewhere..where the temp is around 7 degrees...then you can leave it outside....if you are in a place thats so cool can I visit you?..huh...can I?...I'm kinda roasting in this place!   

lazy cooks baked onion rings

Hi guys........guilt free onion rings.....did you ever think there could be something like it?..........wonder when someone is going to dream up a guilt free chocolate cake,with guilt free truffle icing topped with guilt free whipped cream....with the taste intact.The taste HAS to be the same.....till then we indulge in desserts and "guilt free" other stuff.

These got done because they have to go to Nupur's event...from-fried-to-favourite..suffice it to say..that they turned out pretty nice and I'm  a convert....I will def. making these as well as the baked samosas again

INGRDS
onion rings .....of 3 onions(I only took the outer rings...for symmetery)
2 tblsp cornflour
milk as reqd.
salt,pepper to taste
2 tblsp crushed corn flakes
olive oil to brush the tray


METHOD
1.Make a slurry of the cornflour,salt,pepper and milk.Dip the onion rings..individually in this..then roll/dust with the crushed cornflakes.Do not put the cornflakes into the cornflour to save time....it just doesn't work!
2.Brush a tray with olive oil,put these rings on it...bake at 190degC...for 20-25 mins(it'll depend on your oven)
3.Serve hot with ketchup.........we had it with pizza......and my kids put chaat masala on some of the rings!).Which ever way you would like to have this is good..........and fat free! 

lazy cooks chocolate biscuits

Add caption

OMG!Finally my net connection was restored..........it was extremely frustrating...........waiting...waiting..it was a case of...waiting for the storm to get over(we had a rather stormy(!) weekend....then rushing to see if the connection was back.....then again checking after sometime.....anyway....hopefully the connection will now stay!
This is  not my brainchild..........these are from the pioneer woman's website and they are out of this world!simply superb.....if you are a chocoholic..you won't be able to stop at 1...and def. dunk them in the melted chocolate..........although I had  1 or 2...ok maybe 3-4 without the extra chocolate  and they were pretty good too..........the thing is with the chocolate coating..they are mind blowing!I had halved the recipe and made it...and am kicking myself for it..should've made the full thing!
INGRDS
250 gms butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 whole gg
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa pdr
1/2 tsp salt
cooking chocolate-i used about 200 gms
  METHOD
1.Beat the butter and pdr sugar,add the vanilla essence and egg..beat  again.Add the flour,cocoa pdr salt.
2.Roll it out to 1/4 inch thickness(about a parantha thickness..lets say...pls don't bother measuring this)and cut out.........use a cookie cutter............or simply cut whatever shapes you desire.These cute little teapots....I got 3 trays out of half the recipe.
3.In a pre heated oven.190degC ..........bake for 7-9 mins.
4.After they come out of the oven..let them cool down.

waiting to go into the oven.

cooling down...a few got "tasted"

5.Melt the chocolate in a double boiler..........dip the biscuits in..let me harden up(I put them in the fridge for 10 mins)............YUM!http://anjali-cooklog.blogspot.in/2012/02/announcing-my-first-event-cakes-cookies.html

lazy cooks beans foogath

Hi folks........first the recipe..then my ranting...this is a nice n simple way to do beans..also called beans Upkari..or more commanly called beans with coconut in my house.
INGRDS
1.500gms french beans,chopped into small pcs
2. 1 medium sized onion chooped fine
3. 1 green chilli chopped fine
4. curry leaves-1 sprig
5. 1 tsp mustard seeds
6. 1 tblsp chana dal(optional)
7. 2 tblsp grated coconut
8. salt to taste.
METHOD

1.Heat 1 tblsp coconut oil in a kadhai,splutter the mustard seeds.
2.Add chana dal,saute...then add the onion,green chilli and curry leaves..saute.
3.Add the beans,salt and just a sprinkle of water.Cover and cook on a low flame.
4.Cook till the beans are done and the water has evaporated.
5.Add the coconut,stir well and put off the flame.

6. Serve hot.
Now onto my promised ranting...after much arm twisting,i finally took the car out on my own into town and came to the following conclusions
1.I HATE driving..i would much rather be driven and
2.I HATE driving..i would much rather be driven...... cant say it often enough.I do not know if this makes be unemancipated,a blot on womankind or plain stupid!The bliss of staring out of the car window,making inane comments and singing offkey can only happen if you're comfortably seated next to SOMEONELSE driving! I rest my case.:)

lazy cooks methi pulao

Hi everyone!I made this for lunch yesterday..along with some chettinad chicken.This is pretty easy to do,really healthy..and tasty.
INGRDS
1. 2 cups rice(i use basmati),washed and soaked in water for 1/2 an hour.
2. 2 cups methi(fenugreek) leaves washed and chopped fine.
3. 2 medium sized potatoes chopped into small cubes.
4. 3 mediun sized tomatoes chopped fine.
5. 8 cloves of garlic,pound together with 1 green chilli
6. salt to taste,1/2 tsp each of tumeric,black pepper and chilli powdr and 1 heaped tsp of corriander powder
METHOD
1. In a kadhai(a wide heavy bottomed wok!),add 1tablespoon of oil(any veg. oil..i usually use olive pomace),add the garlic-green chilli,fry for a few mins,as the colour starts changing add the tomatoes and the spices.Fry this well,when the masala comes together...add the methi and potato..cover and cook till the potatoes are almost done(5-7 mins).

2.Now add the drained rice and double the quantity of water,stir well..let it come to a boil,then cover with a lid,reduce the flame to mediun....and walk away.I went to take this picture.
3.After about 12-15 mins check on the rice..it should be done.
4.I garnished with some grated coconut...serve with some raita,papad and pickle........or some lovely spicy chicken.

lazy cooks blackcurrant cheesecake

Hello all!How are you?I was in a real blue funk because of a really weird friend.She was unwell,i sent her some food.....She handed over the whole lot to her maid...because she considered the food that i had sent across dirty.......because i have dogs at home!!!!!!!!!!I oscillated between being upset,being angry and now i'm just confused.....anyway onto better stuff....I made this cheesecake to cheer me up.It is a rachel allen recipe tweaked like crazy.I don't get mascarpone out here..nor do i get blueberries...I do get amazingly fresh cottage cheese..which is what i have used...I sent some across to my friend manisha ,coz talking to her is also a great "pick me up".
INGRDS
1.200gms biscuits(use digestive if you have...i had glucose biscuits)
2.75 gms butter
3.400gms paneer(cottage cheese)
5.150 gms sugar
6.1/2 -3/4 cup of milk
7. 3eggs
8. 3 tablespoons of blackcurrant crush(or any crush that you have )
9. a springform tin.(loose bottomed tin)
METHOD

1.Pound the biscuits a little(i pound them a lot...good for  venting steam!),throw them in the mixer and powder them.Melt the butter,pour over the biscuits,mix really well,then spread on the bottom of the springform tin.Smoothen it out and put in the refrigerator.

Process

2.Take the paneer,chop up roughly and throw in the food processor. Process for 1 min...it'll totally crumble......now add the rest of the stuff(sugar,eggs,milk(first only 1/2 cup)and the blackcurrant crush)Process away...till you get a lovely creamy consistency(i had to add the rest of the milk.)BTW.....i processed for 2 mins....it was enough.

3.Pour the mix onto the biscuit base..and put into a preheated oven at 160degC for 50 mins. 

4.After the cheesecake has cooled down,take it out of the tin and put more blackcurrant crush on top.Thereafter cut a nice big slice for yourself and feel better about life! sending this tohttp://pumpkinfarmfood.blogspot.com/2011/12/bake-fest-new-year-event-2012.html further linked tohttp://vardhiniskitchen.blogspot.com/p/bake-fest-hosting-schedule.htmland to ramyashttp://ramyasrecipe.blogspot.com/2012/01/abc-series-desserts_06.htmland tohttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.com/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html
and tohttp://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/#comment-3053