Corn in a Cup Recipe

cup corn

This is not much of a recipe actually but I posted it anyhow. Corn in a cup or cup corn is very popular around the world. This is a quick and simple snack and very easy to make. If you do not want to use tinned corn, recipe with fresh corn is also given below.

Recipe of corn in a cup/cup corn

1 cup tinned corn kernels

1/4 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp butter

1/2 tsp chaat masala

2 tsp lemon juice

How to make corn in a cup

1. Heat a kadhai or a pan and melt butter in it.

2. Add corn, red chilli powder, salt and chaat masala. Stir for 2 minutes.

3. Turn off the heat and mix in lemon juice.

4. Serve hot cup corn in plastic cups or bowls.

How to make cup corn with fresh corn

Boil fresh corn with little sugar and turmeric powder for 5 minutes. Do not add salt while boiling as it will harden corn. Turn off the heat and add salt. Let corn stand in salted water for 10 minutes. Strain and prepare corn cups as above.

Cucumber Onion Tomato Sandwich

cucumber onion tomato sandwich

These sandwiches are great for breakfast anytime! Cucumber tastes good in a sandwich and tomato, onion impart a lot of flavor plus nutrition. I have used butter as a spread but you can also use mayonnaise in its place.

Recipe of cucumber onion tomato sandwich

6 bread slices (I used brown bread)

1 cucumber- peeled and sliced

1 tomato- sliced

1 onion- sliced

Butter- as required

Salt to taste

Black pepper powder- to taste

sandwich

1. With the help of a sharp knife, thinly remove sides of the bread slices. (You can dry them and make bread crumbs from them).

2. Apply a thin layer of butter on 1 side of bread slices.

3. Arrange cucumber, onion and tomato slices on buttered side of 1 bread slice.

4. Sprinkle salt and pepper on them.

5. Cover the sandwich with another bread slice (buttered side down).

6. Enjoy cucumber, onion and tomato sandwich!

Eggless Apple Cake Recipe

apple cake

This is a very simple recipe of very delicious apple cake. Who says you can't bake cakes without eggs. I bake all my cakes without egg and all turn out very tasty and soft. Try this apple cake and you'll agree with me.

Recipe of eggless apple cake

1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)

1 cup all purpose flour (maida/refined flour)

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups apple puree (unsweetened)

1 cup milk

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp soda-bi-carbonate

100 gms melted butter

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degree C.

2. Grease a cake tin of 1 kg capacity and dust with maida. Keep aside.

3. Sieve together atta, maida, baking powder, soda-bi-carb and powdered sugar.

4. Mix together apple puree and milk. Blend till well blended.

5. Add butter and mix.

6. Slowly add the flour mixture, mixing with other hand to prevent lump formation.

7. If the cake batter appears too thick, add a little milk.

8. Pour the cake batter in the cake tin and bake in the preheated oven at 200 degree C. Bake for 30-40 minutes. Insert a toothpick or a knife at the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is done.

9. When the apple cake has cooled down, invert onto a plate and cut as desired.

Cooking Rice in Microwave

microwave plain rice

One of the advantages of cooking rice in microwave is that rice turns out 'khila khila' that is, grains are separate. You can serve rice in the same container in which it was cooked, that is, if you are using micro safe glassware. You can also reheat in the same container.

Recipe of cooking plain rice in microwave

1 ½ cup basmati rice

3 cups water

1. Wash and soak rice for about 1/2 an hour. Drain.

2. Cook rice with 3 cups of water, covered in the microwave safe bowl with a lid or with a cling film through which some holes have been pierced. Cook for 13 minutes on a High.

3. Turn off the microwave but let the rice stand in it for 5-10 minutes. In the meanwhile do not open the lid. Serve rice hot.

Homemade Pizza

homemade pizza

Everyone in my family prefers homemade pizza over readymade pizza. Not only it’s economical but far healthier and you can control how much cheese or butter goes in it. It doesn’t take much long to prepare pizza at home if you have ingredients at hand.

Recipe of homemade pizza

Makes 2 pizzas

2 ready made pizza bases

Tomato sauce

1/2 cup tomato puree

4 garlic flakes- chopped finely

3 tomatoes- chopped finely

1 tsp oil

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt to taste

Ground black pepper- to taste

Topping

1 onion- chopped

1 tomato- pulp removed and chopped

1 capsicum (bell pepper) - deseeded and chopped

A few slices of jalapenos

200 gms mozzarella cheese (pizza cheese) - grated

1-2 tbsp olive oil

1. To prepare the tomato sauce, heat oil in a pan and add garlic. Stir for a few seconds and add all the ingredients for sauce. Bring it to a boil. Lower heat and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook till sauce thickens and can be spread without being runny. Turn off the heat.

2. Spread olive oil or melted butter over each pizza base covering the edges.

3. Spread tomato sauce over pizza base.

4. Sprinkle some grated cheese over each base.

5. Sprinkle the vegetable topping.

6. Sprinkle left over cheese. Drizzle some olive oil.

7. Bake at 180 degree C OR 350 Degree F for 15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Serve pizza hot.

Note- You can also use readymade pizza sauce instead of making it at home to make pizza absolutely fast.

Baked Potato Wedges

baked potato wedges

The first time I made these baked potato wedges, I was surprised how easy they are to put together and how deliciously crunchy they are. If you love potato, then this dish is a must try and what my strong belief is that it can turn even a non-believer into a fan.

Recipe of baked potato wedges

4-5 medium potatoes- washed and cut into wedges

3 tbsp olive oil

4-5 garlic cloves- crushed

1 tsp salt or to taste

1/2 tsp red chilli flakes

1 tsp mixed herbs like dried parsley, dried basil, and rosemary

1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 375 degree F.

2. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and add potato wedges to it. Toss so that potatoes are well coated with the seasoning.

3. Spread potato wedges on a greased baking tray. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes. Serve hot.

Note- for quick results, boil potatoes to 2 whistles and then cut into wedges.

(Spinach) Palak Soup

palak soup

Spinach soup or palak soup is one of the healthiest soups. It is also an excellent soup for babies. I usually serve palak soup with soup buns.

Recipe of palak soup

2 cups spinach leaves (palak) - washed and chopped finely

1 medium onion- sliced

4 cups water

1/2 cup skimmed milk

1 tbsp butter

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp black pepper powder

Cream to garnish (optional)

1. Melt butter in a saucepan and add onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add palak leaves, salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes more.

2. Add water and cook for another 4 minutes till spinach leaves turn tender. Cool and puree the mixture. Strain in a soup strainer. Reheat in the saucepan.

3. Add milk and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer the spinach soup in the soup bowl. Garnish with cream and Serve hot.

(Matar) Green Peas Soup

matar ka soup

This green peas soup or matar ka soup is an easy, breezy soup. It's very easy to make and quite a comforter on a cold, wintry day. As days are getting cold, this soup is a welcome change from summer salads.

Recipe of (matar) green peas soup

2 cups shelled green peas (matar) - fresh or frozen

6 cups water

Salt to taste

1/4 cup milk

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

A pinch of sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

A blob of butter

1. Boil the green peas or matar with 6 cups of water, sugar, salt and lemon juice. Cook till peas turn tender. Let it cool down a bit.

2. Blend the mixture in a blender to a smooth consistency.

3. Pour in a saucepan and reheat on a medium heat. Add milk, black pepper and butter. Mix well.

4. Cook for 2 minutes more. Turn off the heat. Pour in the soup bowls and serve hot matar ka soup.

Tomato Soup

tomato soup

This is a very simple and fast recipe for the delicious, ever popular tomato soup. There is nothing like home made fresh tomato soup. It can beat the canned soup anytime. It is very healthy and can be given to the babies and also to sick people.

Recipe of tomato soup

6 tomatoes- chopped

1 small onion- chopped

2 tsp sugar

4 cups water

Salt to taste

2 tsp butter

1/4 tsp Black pepper powder

1. Melt butter in a pressure cooker. Add onion and sauté till it turns light brown.

2. Add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and close the lid of the cooker. Cook to 2 whistles. Cook further on low heat for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool down.

3. Blend this mixture in a blender to a smooth puree. Strain through a sieve or a soup strainer.

4. Reheat soup in a saucepan and add salt, sugar and black pepper powder. Serve hot. You can also garnish tomato soup with cream and bread croutons.

Simple Eggless Vanilla Cake Recipe

eggless vanilla cake

Simple eggless vanilla cake is also called basic eggless cake. This is a very simple and easy to follow recipe which uses no eggs or butter.

Recipe of simple eggless vanilla cake/ basic eggless cake

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (maida/refined flour)

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla essence

1 cup milk

1 tsp baking powder

3 tbsp oil

1. Mix all purpose flour and baking powder and pass them through a sieve.

2. Add rest of the ingredients and mix well. Beat the cake batter thoroughly.

3. Preheat oven at 200 degree C for 10 minutes.

4. Grease a baking pan with few drops of oil and dust with all purpose flour. Pour the cake batter in the pan.

5. Bake this vanilla cake in preheated oven at 200 degree C for 10 minutes. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 180 degree C and bake for 20-25 minutes or till a toothpick inserted at the centre of the cake comes out clean.

6. Cool the cake in the baking pan for 20 minutes, then invert onto a plate. Cut this eggless vanilla cake into slices when it cools down completely.

vanilla cake

Tomato Corn Bruschetta

tomato corn bruschetta

Tomato corn bruschetta is a delicious appetizer which can be made pretty easily. You can skip the sweet corn or American corn and make ‘Tomato Bruschetta’ using tomatoes only. You’ll love it any way you try.

Recipe of tomato corn bruschetta

1 French bread- cut into 1/2 inch thick slices (about 12 slices)

2 tsp garlic paste

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Topping

2 cups tomatoes- deseeded and finely diced

1/2 cup sweet corn- boiled

1/2 tsp coarsely crushed black peppercorns

1 tsp oregano

Salt to taste

Red chilli flakes to taste

1 tbsp olive oil

1. In a bowl, mix garlic paste, salt, pepper, butter and olive oil.

2. Apply a thin layer of this paste on each slice of French bread. Heat a griddle (tava) and lightly toast these slices on it. Set aside.

3. Now for the topping, heat olive oil in a pan and add tomatoes. Stir fry for few seconds.

4. Add sweet corn, oregano, salt, red chilli flakes and crushed peppercorns. Sauté for 2 minutes.

5. Spread 2 tsp topping on each slice of toasted bread. Preheat oven at 180 C for 10 minutes.

6. Bake these bread slices in preheated oven at 180 degree C for 5 minutes or till crisp. Serve tomato corn bruschetta hot.

Brown Bread Pizza

brown bread pizza

This brown bread pizza is loved by kids. I usually prepare them for breakfast but it can also be had as an anytime snack. Brown bread is used so as to incorporate fibers but bread pizza can also be made using regular white bread.

Recipe of brown bread pizza

6-8 brown bread slices

1 Capsicum- deseeded and finely chopped

1 tomato- pulp removed and finely chopped

1 onion- finely chopped

1 tbsp corn kernels

3/4 cup cheddar or mozzarella cheese- grated

1/4 tsp chilli flakes

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp oregano

Butter- as needed

1. Mix half of the grated cheese and rest of the ingredients except bread in a bowl.

2. Apply a thin layer of butter on one side of bread slices. Place this mixture over them. Sprinkle rest of the cheese on top of all bread slices.

3. Bake these bread slices at 250 degree C for 3-5 minutes or till the cheese melts and turn golden brown. Serve bread pizza hot.

Kimchi Salad Recipe

kimchi salad

Kimchi salad is a very popular chinese and Korean salad. In India, kimchi salad is served at most Chinese restaurants.

Recipe of kimchi salad

1/2 medium cabbage (patta gobi/ band gobhi)

2 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp vinegar

2 tbsp tomato sauce/ ketchup

2 tsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 tsp chopped garlic

2 dry red chillies

1. Deseed and soak red chillies in water for 10-12 minutes.

2. Chop cabbage into 1 1/2 inch pieces.

3. Put 4 cups of water in a pan and add 2 tsp salt and 2 tsp sugar. Bring it to boil. Add cabbage. Turn off the heat immediately.

4. Strain the cabbage and refresh in cold water.

5. Drain the red chillies. Using little water, grind red chillies, ginger and garlic together to a coarse paste.

6. To this paste, add tomato ketchup, soy sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper and vinegar.

7. Mix this paste with cabbage gently. Serve kimchi salad at room temperature.

Potato, Apple and Celery Salad

potato, apple, celery salad

This cool salad of potato, apple and celery is very refreshing. It tastes best when chilled.

Recipe of potato, apple and celery salad

7-8 baby potatoes - peeled

2 red apples

2-3 celery stalks

1 tbsp oil

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Salt to taste

Black pepper (coarsely crushed) - to taste

1. Place 4 cups of water in a pan with 1 1/2 tsp salt and baby potatoes. Bring it to a boil. Lower heat and cook covered till potatoes turn fork tender. Strain.

2. Core apples and cut into 1/2 inch cubes without peeling. Chop the celery stems.

3. Place potatoes, apples and celery stems in a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 tbsp oil and lemon juice.

4. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Cover and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

5. Just before serving, add the mayonnaise and 1/2 tbsp oil. Gently mix and serve chilled.

Note- Cut apples just before mixing and immediately add lemon juice and oil to prevent discoloration of apples.

Healthy Bytes- All of us have heard that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ but few of us realize its meaning. Consuming apple reduces your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma. It’s also helpful in keeping Alzheimer at bay.

Celery also known as shalari in hindi, is a good source of vitamin C thus it supports immune system. It helps release cold symptoms. Celery is helpful in reducing blood pressure and helps improve cardiovascular health.

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

vegetable hakka noodles

Vegetable hakka noodles are a popular Chinese food which is also a street food in India where it is cooked in Indo-Chinese style. Here is an easy recipe of this fusion food which makes for a delicious plate of hakka noodles. Enjoy!

1 packet (200 gms) hakka noodles

3 tbsp oil

1 medium onion

1 medium capsicum (bell pepper/shimla mirch)

1 medium carrot

1/4 small cabbage

Green part of 1 green onion (spring onion/hara pyaz)

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp white pepper powder

1 tbsp soya sauce

2 tsp vinegar

1. Boil 6-7 cups of water with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp oil. Add hakka noodles to boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes. Drain. Refresh in cold water and drain. Sprinkle 2 tsp oil over noodles and mix lightly. Spread them in a big plate or tray and set aside.

2. Slice onion finely. Deseed capsicum and cut into long strips, cut carrot into long strips. Chop cabbage into long, thin strips and chop green part of green onion.

3. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a kadhai/wok. Add onion and stir fry for some time. Add carrot, capsicum and cabbage and stir fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add hakka noodles, soya sauce, salt, vinegar and white pepper powder. Mix well and cook on high heat for few minutes. Serve vegetable hakka noodles hot garnished with chopped green onion leaves.

Mixed Vegetable Soup

mixed vegetable soup

Mixed vegetable soup is a low calorie, super nutritious soup. Even if you don't add butter, it tastes equally good. Mixed vegetable soup is packed with the goodness of healthy vegetables and tastes too good.

Recipe of mixed vegetable soup

2 carrots

1 onion

1 potato

1/2 cup cabbage

1 tomato

3/4 cup milk

5 cups of water

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp black pepper powder or to taste

1 tsp butter (optional)

1. Roughly chop all the vegetables.

2. Place chopped vegetables along with 5 cups water in a pressure cooker. Cook to 2 whistles. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Cool and puree in a blender. Strain the soup.

4. Reheat the soup in a pan and add milk to it. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly.

5. Add salt, pepper and butter to the soup and mix. Serve vegetable soup hot.

Coconut Cookies

coconut cookies

These coconut cookies are mine and my hubby’s favorite cookies. They are absolutely delicious and melt in the mouth. I baked coconut cookies yesterday and only few of them are left today.

Recipe of coconut cookies/ biscuits

1 1/2 cup maida (all purpose flour/refined flour)

1 cup desiccated coconut

3/4 cup grinded sugar

4-5 tbsp unsalted butter or ghee (clarified butter)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1. Mix sugar in butter or ghee. Beat it till it gets lighter in color and fluffy.

2. Mix coconut and baking soda in all purpose flour.

3. Mix flour mixture in sugar-butter mixture. Turn it into dough. The dough would be crumbly.

4. Preheat oven to 180 degree C for 10 minutes.

5. Make small balls from the dough and flatten them between your palms. Line a baking tray with cookie sheet and grease it. Place these raw cookies on baking tray with some distance apart.

6. Bake them in the oven at 180 degree C for approx. 15 minutes or till they turn light brownish from the base. When hot, they will be soft to touch. Cool the coconut cookies completely before storing them in an airtight jar.

coconut biscuits

Atta Biscuits (Whole Wheat Cookies)

atta biscuits

I wanted to bake some really healthy, less sweet cookies. So I ended up baking these atta biscuits or whole wheat cookies. They are healthy since whole wheat flour and vegetable oil are used instead of refined flour and butter. These atta biscuits are not very sweet and soft to eat and not crunchy.

Recipe of atta biscuits/ whole wheat cookies

1 cup atta (whole wheat flour)

5 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

1 tsp baking powder

1. Mix oil and sugar in a bowl. Beat really well till it turns light and fluffy.

2. Sieve together atta and baking powder. Mix in cardamom powder.

3. Mix this in the oil-sugar mixture. Knead into soft dough. If the dough is difficult to knead, add some chilled milk. Keep it aside for a while.

3. Preheat oven to 180 degree C.

4. Form small balls from the dough and flatten them between your palms. Line a baking tray with cookie sheet and lightly grease it.

5. Place biscuits on the tray keeping a little distance between them. Bake them at 180 degree C for 10-12 minutes. Let the atta biscuits cool completely before sampling them. Store in an airtight container.

Chilli Cheese Toast

chilli cheese toast

Chilli cheese toast is a very simple and fast recipe. If you have the ingredients at home, you can prepare these toasts quickly. Chilli cheese toast is quite tasty and hassle free breakfast and snack item.

Recipe of chilli cheese toast

1 capsicum (bell pepper/shimla mirch) - finely chopped

2 green chillies- finely chopped

1 onion- finely chopped

1/2 cup grated cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)

Salt to taste

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

Chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)

Few slices of bread (I used brown bread)

1. Mix half of grated cheese and rest of the ingredients except bread, in a bowl.

2. Take bread slices and spread this mixture on 1 side of the bread. Sprinkle rest of the cheese over them.

3. Bake these slices in an oven at 250 degree C till cheese melts and turn golden. Serve chilli cheese toast hot.

Eggless Banana Cake/Bread

banana cake

Banana cake is also called banana bread but I prefer to call it a cake because it is as soft and delicious as a cake. I love banana and also cake so this eggless banana cake is a perfect combo for me. This is also a low calorie cake since I have used less butter than generally used but trust me, it has no effect on the taste.

Recipe of eggless banana cake/bread

2 cups maida (all purpose flour/refined flour)

1 cup sugar

2 pinches salt

1 tsp baking powder

2 over ripe banana (kela)

2 tbsp butter

1/2 cup milk

cake batter

 1. Peel and mash banana till smooth and lump free.

2. Sieve together maida, salt and baking powder.

3. Add sugar and butter to mashed banana and mix well till smooth.

4. Preheat oven at 180 degree C for 10 minutes.

5. Add maida from step 2 to banana mixture. Add milk. Beat well (I used hand blender) the batter.

6. Grease a baking pan and dust it with maida. Shake off excess maida.

7. Pour the cake batter in the baking pan and place it in the oven.

8. Bake the banana cake at 180 degree C for 30 minutes or till a knife inserted at the centre of the cake comes out clean.

9. If the upper surface of the cake has not browned, bake at 250 degree C for 5 minutes. This should brown the cake.

10. Take out from the oven and cool for about 20 minutes. Then invert from the baking pan on to a plate. Upon cooling down completely, slice and serve the banana cake.