lazy cooks chocolate peppermint cupcakes

Hi everyone....you know your friends are good friends when you meet after years and years and it seems like you'd met yesterday.In Mumbai on the 5th of jan i met up with an old friend  after 12 years and it was great!This one's for you Cheryl.

this is an old and grainy photograph..we're not THAT old!
INGRDS
1 2 cups flour2 1/2 cup cocoa pdr
3 1tsp baking soda
4 1/2 cup oil

5 1 1/4 cup of sugar
6 3 eggs
7 1 tsp vanilla essence
8 1 cup of butter milk(since i never have this...i simply put 2tsp vinegar in 1 cup of milk and leave it for 5 mins)
ICING
1 100 gms dark chocolate
2 100 gms cream
3 100 gms condensed milk(why not?)
4 peppermint essence..a few drops
METHOD
1.Pre-heat the oven(180degC)
2.Sieve the dry ingrds together(flour,cocoa pdr and baking soda) 
3.Beat the sugar,oil and eggs...add the vanilla essence...then the dry ingrds and the buttermilk.Beat till bubbles appear.Thereafter,put the cupcake cups in the muffin pan..and pour the mix in it till 3/4 of the cup.I find it easier to simply put it into a measuring cup and pour from there.
4. Bake for 17-20 mins.
ICING

1.Thawack the chocolate ,so that there are no big chunky bits,put in a pan along with the cream and condensed milk,put this pan on the stove on a low flame...it'll melt and come together,when it's nice n smooth take it off and add the peppermint essence(a few drops are good enough)

2.Now hold the cupcake by its bottom and dunk it in,take it out and ...sprinkle it with sprinkles real quick...and we're done.

sending this to Karen at tea time treatshttp://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2012/01/new-tea-time-treats-january-challenge.html

and to Sarvshttp://sravscc.blogspot.com/2012/01/announcing-cooking-concepts-6-chocolate.html

andto kavi'sLinking to Kid's Delight hosted by Edible Entertainmentand tohttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.com/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html

and tohttp://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/#comment-3053

and tohttp://tasteofpearlcity.blogspot.com/2012/01/any-one-can-cook-series-39.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TasteOfPearlCity+%28Taste+of+Pearl+City%29

lazy cooks triple chocolate cookies

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Hi everyone......a simple little thought- how do people in merry ol' england stay merry?We have the english weather out here (in the himalaya's!)..its cold,wet and miserable!Anyway to cheer the lot of us i baked these healthy cookies yesterday.Healthy..coz its made with whole wheat and brown sugar..and cocoa(feel good factor)...its easy to do and whats more with each bite you'll not feel too guilty!
INGRDS
1.1 cup atta(whole wheat flour)
2.1/2 cup oats
3.100 gms butter
4.1 egg
5.1/2 cup brown sugar
6.2 tablespoons cocoa powdr
7.1 level teaspoon baking soda
8.1 teaspoon vanilla essence
9.1/4 cup each of dark chocolate and white chocolate chips

 METHOD
1.Sieve the dry ingrds together(atta,baking soda and cocoa pdr).
2.Beat the butter and sugar together(if reqd..microwave the butter for a few seconds to make it a little soft).Add the essence and egg,beat well.
3.Pre heat the oven(switch it on at this stage at 180degC)
4.Add the flour,oats and chocolate chips.Mix well. I use an electric beater.
5.Butter the cookie tray(if you have parchment paper then just use that)....then simply use a rounded spoon to plop the cookies onto the tray(use an ice cream scoop...i could'nt find mine!)

6.Into the hot oven for 13-15 mins.Take 'em out and put them onto a wire rack to cool.........ENJOY!

view outside

On a totally unrelated note.....due to the weather..this is what my daughter was upto

can't step out!

huh?.can't hear you!

when is this going to end?

i'm grinning!

i'm soooooooo embarassed..this is humiliating.

feel a little better!

Waiting for the sun to shine....take care.Sending this to Teenz's Yummy delightshttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.com/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html
and also to Anzz cafehttp://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/#comment-3053
and to http://sravscc.blogspot.com/2012/01/announcing-cooking-concepts-6-chocolate.html
and to
http://daily-cuppa.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-first-event-chocolate-lover.html
and to karen at http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2012/01/new-tea-time-treats-january-challenge.html
and tohttp://thechocolatepot.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-should-cocoa-january-2012-challenge.html
an

lazycooks butter paneer a la pai angle's

H<a href="http://www.blogadda.com" title="Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs" > <img src="http://www.blogadda.com/images/blogadda.png" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="Visit blogadda.com to discover Indian blogs"/></a>
hello everyone..while in goa we bumped into an old school friend of my husband's.Friends who treated us like family,really really nice folks....This recipe was given by them....i came back to udhampur and tried it out....its super easy and its really good.Their version did not have the ginger garlic green chilli(thats just my punjabi genes rearing up)...and their version had tomato juice instead of tomato puree(in the mountains i don't get everything.....so i had to use the puree!......but if you get the juice please use that).This is finger licking good-i promise you that.
INGRDS
1.300gms paneer
2.amul butter(brand loyalty)
3.1 tetra pack of cream(200 gms)
4.Tomato puree(use tomato juice if available)
5 salt and white pepper to taste
6.totally optional-ginger,garlic and green chilli paste
METHOD
1.In 1  tablespoon of butter ,fry the ginger,garlic green chilli paste(2 teaspoons),till its lightly brown.

2.Add 100gms(1/2 tetra pack)of the puree,add 1/2 tetra pack of cream(100 gms),1/2 cup of water,salt and white pepper to taste(you can add 1 tsp of sugar),mix it all really well....then add the paneer pieces,cover and cook for 10 mins.
3.Garnish with corriander leaves....and serve!
4.You can make the gravy and add tandoori chicken to it.............butter chicken!
Thank you Navaz and Hari Pai Angle......for this lovely recipe and for the great time that we had with you.
sending this to teena's eventhttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.com/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html
and to http://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/#comment-3053
and to
/<a href="http://www.blogadda.com" title="Visit BlogAdda.com to discover Indian blogs"> <img src="http://www.blogadda.com/images/blogadda.png" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="Visit BlogAdda.com to discover Indian blogs" /></a>

lazy cooks nuts 'bout you.

 a

Hi!I am back after the lovely sun n sand holiday at goa..........back to udham which is freezing and raining and the sun has vanished(gone to goa methinks!)This is a pic of us on board a boat which took my husband and kids parasailing in the sea(i held onto my hat and looked out for dolphins......i'm petrified of the sea..........i was also praying !)

In this cold cold weather.....i crave hot desserts......and anything that'll get done without too much effort on my part.Well this is it!
INGRDS
1. 1 tin milkmaid
2. 1 grated (fresh) coconut
3. 1 cup mixed nuts
4 1 cup candied cherries
5.1/2 cup candied mixed peel
6.1 1/2 tablespoon rum(i used whisky)or if you don't want alcohol use a teaspoon of vanilla essence
METHOD
1.Simply throw everything together and mix thoroughly.
2.Butter the dish in which you're going to bake,put the mix in.and microwave on max for 10 min(or thereabouts).It will behave like a cake............in that it will leave the sides if the dish and then you know its ready.


3.Take it out and serve it hot.with some whipped cream if so desired...i like it plain
.I could'nt think of a better name....but i figured this has nuts....... and i love it ...so there!Nuts 'bout you!

Before i sign off i had to put one more pic of my family,in goa,at big foot.In just a year my son's now taller than me and my daughter is fast catching up!
Am sending this to anzz cafe's event http://anzzcafe.com/event-valentines-special/#comment-3053

and to ramya's event-Linking to Kid's Delight hosted by Edible Entertainment
and tohttp://teenzyummydelights.blogspot.com/2012/01/sending-lil-valentine-love-your-way.html

lazy cooks bruchetta

Hello  everyone!Once  week we get a visit from the bakery van.now when you look at the pic..you'll see that it is actually a truck...but it likes to call itself a van(much like me..i must add..i understand its sentiments perfectly!)...so the bakery van comes around in the morning and we rush to see what goodies he has in store.My all time favourite is the garlic bread,its freshly baked and lovely and garlicky.....and perfect with a nice thick soup..or for making bruchetta.

Bruchetta(bru"sheh"ta...or brus"kee"ta.....americano or italian ..you take your pick)...was actually a way of utilizing stale bread.....the bread is toasted,rubbed with garlic,topped with chopped tomatoes..or whatever your heart desires,drizzled with olive oil.or cheese
For me though(lazy cook that i am)...with a very fussy family ..its got to have loads of flavour and............cheese.So here we go....
INGRDS
1.Garlic bread.
2.Pizza topping(i use fun foods)
3.1 onion(chopped fine)
4.1 capcicum(chopped fine)
5.olives(sliced)
6.cheese(i use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella both amul )
METHOD

1.Slice the loaf,spread liberally with the pizza topping,add the toppings,obviously the cheese....and it gets grilled in a hot oven for 5mins....or......it goes in the microwave on the crisper plate for the same time(5 mins).Thats it!...............Bruchetta!Its great as a party snack..or for coffee mornings..or for dinner with a nice soup.

2.Now onto other stuff....last winter,we had gone on a vacation very close to where we stay(more mountains)...It was lovely ..very cold though!(.looking at this snap i am struck by the fact that my son was still shorter than me )
3.Tomorrow we are off to the sunny beaches of GOA..yay!So guys..i will be back on the 14th...i will try and get some nice authentic goan recipes..and will see you then.....take care.
Since this is an eggless version am sending this to..http://kokilasindianfood.blogspot.com/p/fasting-day-menu-1.html 

lazy cooks thai cucumber salad

Hi!Though it continues to be really cold out here......eat we must..and if its healthy....all the better!I mentioned the healthy bit because there is nothing better than having maggi,made by the roadside dhabawallah when you are surrounded by snow covered mountains and your teeth are chattering.......its pretty amazing.Seriously!
Anyway to continue.........this thai cucumber salad is refreshing,its pretty healthy and quite frankly the fussy husband loves this.I must also admit that the authencity of this dish has been done away with....cause i do not use fish sauce...i do not like it...but you feel free to add it.....(1 tsp fish sauce goes into the dressing)
INGRDS
1.1 med sized cucumber(you need to get 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber slices)
2.1/2 cup peanuts(plain....simply roast ,peel and lightly pound them)
3.1 small onion chopped fine
4.1tblsp chopped red chilli
5.2 tblsp chopped cilantro(dhaniya)
DRESSING
1.1 tblsp vinegar(or you can use lemon juice)
2.2 tblsp sugar
3.1/2 tsp salt
4.2tblsp water.
5.1/4 tsp redchilli powder
METHOD
1.Simply put all the salad ingrds ,after all the chopping..and pounding, into a biggish plastic dabba(with a tight fitting lid......or else things will get really messy!)
2.Get your dressing ready,put everything into a pan...heat till the sugar dissolves...voila...dressing ready.
3.Pour the dressing onto the cucumber and co........close the lid..shake well......taste.

4.Transfer onto the serving dish,take pictures......then serve to the waiting family members!
entering this salad in Ambrosia's event....http://ambrotos.blogspot.com/2011/12/veggiefruit-of-month-cucumber.html and...
http://mharorajasthanrecipes.blogspot.com/p/veggiefruit-month-event.html
http://kokilasindianfood.blogspot.com/p/fasting-day-menu-1.html