Ramadan Special: Vegetable Pakoras

This is my all time favourite thing to eat in Ramadan. After a long day of fasting, what can be better than fresh, homemade, hot pakoray! This recipe is guaranteed to have you and your guests speechless. You must try this amazing pakora recipe! Crispy, light and delicious :)

Ingredients

• 6 potatoes, cut into slices
• 4 onion, sliced
• A bunch of coriander
• 2 green chillies
• 1 carrot, grated
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon of chilli flakes
• 1 teaspoon of garam masala
• 1 teaspoon of zeera
• 1 teaspoon of pomegranate seeds
• Water (add accordingly)
• Besan (add accordingly) 
• Oil for deep frying. 

Directions

Cut all vegetables and put into a bowl. Mix all spices into the bowl as well. Add a little bit of besan and mix. Check to see if all the vegetables are coated with the besan. If not, add a little more and mix again. The key to crispy pakoras is the amount of besan and water you put. That is why you need to add it slowly and mix before you add more. Then, add some water in the same way you added the besan: little at a time. You know when the water is enough because the mixture will hold its shape when you hold up a spoon of the mixture in your hand. 

Heat up oil in a pan about 2 inches in depth. When the oil is hot, spoon the pakora batter into the oil. After a few minutes of frying, flip the pakoras is needed and place on a serving platter. Continue to fry until all of the batter is finished. 

Serve with raita and chutney. 

E N J O Y 

- Aysha 

Delicious Goat and Potato Curry (Aloo Gosht Ka Salan)

I made this delicious curry from goat and potatoes for iftar and it turned out amazing! You must try this recipe! Tender meat and potatoes to melt in your mouth.. what can be better than that! It is best served with a nice rice pulao, steamed rice or roti with lots of homemade raita and chutney! Enjoy

Ingredients

• One kilo goat (you can also use beef)
• 6 medium potatoes, cut in chunks
• 1/4 cup of oil
• 3 onions, pureed
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• A head of garlic, pureed or finely diced
• A tablespoon of ginger, pureed or finely diced
• 3 green chillies (more or less depending on how spicy you like)
• A stick of cinnamon
• 1 large cardamom (bari elachi)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds (zeera)
• One bunch of cilantro (dhania) chopped for garnishing

Directions

1. Add oil to pot and heat it up.
2. Add onions and fry until golden brown.
3. Add garlic and ginger. Fry for a few minutes but do not burn.
4. Add tomato puree and green chillies and cook for a few more minutes.
5. Add powdered spiced as well as cinnamon and cardamom. Cook for 5 more minutes.
6. Add the meat and mix well. Cook on high heat for 10 minutes. Stir after every few minutes so meat doesn't burn.
7. To get the meat tender cook for 25-50 more minutes on low heat depending on how tender your meat gets. Add water if meat gets dry when necessary to prevent from burning. Cover the meat and let it cook. Check on it and stir periodically.
8. After the meat has become tender, add the potatoes. Add 2 glasses of water or more depending on how much sauce you want in the curry.
9. Cover and let the potatoes cook for about 10-20 more minutes until the potatoes are soft.
10. Add the cilantro.

Your aloo gosht is now ready! Serve with hot roti or rice and yogurt raita, chutney and salad. Yummmm.. enjoy :)

Perfect Pakistani Chicken Biryani

This is the perfect biryani recipe. Your family, friends and guests will love it!
This is a traditional Pakistani biryani made with chicken. I made it for iftar for my family and everyone loved it and was asking for more! Try and enjoy :)

Chicken Biryani

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken (whole or boneless)
3 cups Basmati rice
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1/2 cup of oil
1 teaspoon ground coriander
A piece of ginger and a head of garlic into a paste
2 tomatoes diced
Cinnamon Stick
4-6 Black peppercorns
Green chillies (2 or more depending on how spicy you like)
A few dried plums
1/2 cup of yogurt
1 onion sliced
Cilantro finely chopped
Lemon to garnish

Directions

In a pot, cook onions in oil until golden brown. Add tomatoes, ginger and garlic paste. Fry for a few minutes. Add chicken and yogurt. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add all of the spices including cumin seeds, salt, coriander, cinammon stick, black pepper, green chillies, and dried plums. Stir and cook for a few minutes. Cover the pot with a lid and cook until chicken and potatoes are done for about 25 minutes on low flame. Garnish with half of the chopped cilantro.

In another pot, bring 15 cups of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and add the rice. Cook until rice is cooked through and then drain the water.

In a dish or the same pot, layer chicken and then top with a layer of rice followed by another layer of chicken and then finish with a layer of rice. Top with the rest of the chopped cilantro.

Slightly mix together the layers by bringing some rice from the bottom to the top and combining the chicken curry.

Serve with raita, chutney, salad and a lemon slice. You will love this perfect recipe! ENJOY :)

Des biscuits aux pépites de chocolat!

Bonjour mes amis!

Aujourd'hui, je vais vous apprendre à faire mon cookie au chocolat recette préférée. Dans mon temps libre, j'aime essayer de nouvelles recettes pour les différents desserts. C'est une recette simple, rapide et facile que vous allez aimer!

Les ingrédients dont vous aurez besoin sont:

1 1/2 t (375 ml) de farine

1/2 c. à thé (2 ml) de sel

1/2 c. à thé (2 ml) de bicarbonate de sodium

1/2 t (125 ml) de beurre ramolli

2/3 t (160 ml) de cassonade

1 oeuf

1/2 c. à thé (2 ml) de vanille

1/2 t (125 ml) de brisures de chocolat mi-sucré

Ce qu'il faut faire:

1. Dans un bol, mélanger la farine, le sel et le bicarbonate de sodium.
2. Dans un autre bol, à l'aide d'un batteur électrique, battre le beurre et la cassonade jusqu'à ce que le mélange soit crémeux.
3. Ajouter l'oeuf et la vanille en battant.
4. Ajouter les ingrédients secs et mélanger à l'aide d'une cuillère jusqu'à ce que la pâte soit homogène. 5. Ajouter les brisures de chocolat et mélanger.

6. Laisser tomber la pâte sur des plaques à biscuits légèrement beurrées.
7. Cuire sur la grille supérieure du four préchauffé à 325°F (160°C) de 7 à 10 minutes (ne pas trop cuire).
8. Déposer les biscuits sur les grilles et laisser refroidir complètement.

Donne environ 32 biscuits.

Voilà! Vous obtenez maintenant de goûter le produit fini! Je espère que vous apprécierez. Se il vous plaît laisser un question ou un commentaire ou ci-dessous et dites-moi si vous avez essayé la recette! Je serai de retour avec une autre recette bientôt :)

To Die For: Walnut Raisin Cookies

This is the perfect soft and chewy cookie. The walnuts and raisins paired with the cinnamon make the perfect combination. You definitely have to give this recipe a try! It is one of my favourites!

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter/margarine
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1 cup walnuts
1 cup raisins
3 cups rolled oats

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2) Beat together the sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
3) Add the milk until combined.
4) Add the walnuts, raisins and oats.
5) Taking a spoon of the cookie dough, form 3 inch balls and flatten them. Then, place them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
6) Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until done.

Enjoy your delicious and healthy cookies!

Alloo Gosht Salan

Ingredients:

One kilo gosht(beef or goat)
6-8 medium potatoes), cut in chunks
3 medium piyaz (onion), finely sliced
3-4 medium tomatoes, diced
1-2 tablespoons lesan(garlic) paste
1-2 tablespoons adrak (ginger) paste
6-8 hari mirch(green chilies), cut into small pieces
a stick of cinnamon
1 bari ellichi (large brown cardamom)
6-8 loung(whole cloves) -optional
1 tablespoon lal mirch(red chili powder)
1 tablespoon namak(salt)
1 teaspoon haldi(turmeric)
1 teaspoon dhania(coriander powder)
1/4 to 1/3 cup oil
one small bunch fresh dhania(cilantro/coriander leaves), roughly chopped

Step 1-Add the tel to your pot and let heat a little
Step 2-Add piyaz to the tel and fry for a minute or two
Step 3-Add whole masalas(loung, kali mirch, dal cheeni, ellichi) to the piyaz.
Fry until piyaz start to turn golden.
Step4- Add adrak and lesan paste to piyaz, fry for about 30 seconds.
Step 5-Add timater, mix well.
Step 6-Add powdered masalas, mix well
Step 7- Fry until the tel starts to separate from the sauce.
Step 8-Add 2-3 tablespoons ghee, this is totally optional and only really for flavor.
Step 9-Add the gosht and mix well, fry for about ten minutes to brown the gosht, stirring frequently to make sure it doesn't burn
Step 10-Add two glasses pani, and mix well.
Step 11-Cover the handi(pot) and cook on a medium fire until the gosht is tender. Stir occasionally, and if it starts to get dry add a little more water.
Step 12-Add the aloo, mix well.
Step 13-Add four glasses of pani, mix well. Cover the handi and cook until the aloo are almost soft enough to pierce with a fork.
Step 14- When the aloo are nearly finished, add the hari mirch. Cover again and cook until the aloo are very soft and the pani has reduced a bit(how much is up to you, we like a lot of sorba{broth} in ours).
Step 15- Add the chopped dhania garnish.
Your Aloo Gosht is ready, serve with hot roti or rice.

It's Been A While!

Hey guys!

Wow it's been ages since I had time to sit down and visit this site. Hope everyone's year went by nicely and that summer is filled with lots of fun and good memories. I'm so sorry I haven't been sharing my recipes on here lately.  This summer I've had some amazing food and tried new recipes I am excited to share with all of you. Stay tuned :)

- Aysha

2 Layered Strawberry Shortcake!

For my little sister's birthday a few weeks ago I made a layered strawberry shortcake.  All of the guests over at my house said it was the best cake they had ever tasted.  This is the yummiest cake I have ever tasted.  The whipped cream added the perfect sweet touch!  This is an absolutely delicious dessert.  This is a cake you have to try!

 

 

Layered Strawberry Shortcake

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
4 eggs, separated
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
4 cups sliced strawberries
whipped cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

In a medium bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup of sugar and baking soda. Mix well

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat egg yolks, water, oil and lemon juice.  At low speed, beat in flour mixture until smooth.

Using clean beaters, beat egg whites on high speed until foamy. Beat in cream of tartar until soft peaks form.  Beat in remaining sugar until stiff, but not dry, peaks form.  Fold in beaten eggs into flour mixture. 
Pour the batter into 2 pans.

Bake until the top is golden. About 25 mins.  Depending on the size of your pan and the heat of the oven the baking time can vary so check on your cake often. 

While the cake is in the oven, you can make your delicious whipping cream!

Time for the fun part...

Cool completely.  Lay the first layer of cake on a platter and spread the whipping cream on top.  Place the fresh, sliced strawberries over top  Now you're ready for the second layer!  Spread a nice layer of whipped cream on and finish by decorating with the remaining strawberries!

 

ENJOY!

Date Squares

Date squares are the perfect sweet treat.  As the name implies, dates are the star of this dessert.
Dates are the fruit of the palm tree that grow in large bunches.  They are high in sugar, which makes it ideal for a dessert.  This is the recipe to make if you're trying to impress your guests or even just to satisfy your own sweet craving.  I guarantee you will love this dessert. Make sure you try it!

Date Filling

3 cups pitted dried dates, chopped
1 cup water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Oatmeal Crust

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup butter

Directions

Filling

Place the pitted dates and water in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the dates are soft and have absorbed most of the water - about 5-10 mins.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Let cool. It should be a fairly smooth consistency. 

Preheat oven to 350F and place rack in the centre of the oven.  Use 9inch square baking pan.  

Oatmeal Crust 

In a bowl, mix oats, flour, sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Add butter and mix until it all comes together  crumbly.  Press about 2/3 of the mixture onto the base of the pan.

Spread the date mixture evenly over the oatmeal crust.
Sprinkle the remaining dough over the dates, press down gently to compact.

Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Once the squares have cooled completely, cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Let the date squares cool. 

Now you're ready to eat!

Earls Restaurant

Earls is honestly one of my favourite restaurants.  The food is the best!

My favourite dish to get is called the Hunan Kung Pao. It is wok fried noodles, made with spicy ginger soy sauce and seared vegetables topped with peanuts.  You can also customize it by adding 1-6 hunan peppers depending on how much spice you can handle. (I got 2 lol) You can get it vegetarian or you can add pan fried chicken or sauteed prawns to the dish. It is the yummiest dish ever.  I go to Earl's just to get this. You have to try it!

 

Earls is definately the restaurant to go.  They have amazing food, a fun atmosphere and nice service.

http://www.earls.ca/

Hunan Kung Pao

I ate my whole meal with chopsticks!!

Chicken Pesto Pasta

Yes.  I'm a pasta lover.  Pesto pasta is one of my all time favorites.  My mom makes amazing pasta and the other day I helped her make this one.  This pasta dish is quick, delicious and healthy. Try this recipe out, I guarantee you won't regret it!

A bowl of delicious chicken pesto pasta

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts, boneless & skinless

1 tbsp olive oil

5 cups rotini pasta

3/4 cup pesto

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/3 cup olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

Preparation

Cut chicken into pieces. Then in a skillet, oil heat over medium-high heat - cook chicken. Stir often, cook for 5 minutes so it is no longer pink inside.  Then set aside.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 8-10 minutes. 

To the pasta, add chicken, salt, pepper, toss to coat.  Heat through.

Pesto

In food processor, finely chop together basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt and pepper.  With the motor running, add oil in thin steady stream.  Stir in garlic.  (This can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze up to 6 months) 

Enjoy your pesto pasta! 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enjoy the perfect peanut butter cookie with a glass of milk :)

This is the perfect cookie.  For all you peanut butter lovers, this is definitely the recipe you've been looking for. I can't explain how great the texture of this cookie is.  It is everything you want in a cookie, The outside is crisp while the inside stays soft and delicate.  If you love to bake, you have to try this!

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter (I used smooth)
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Batter

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg, vanilla and peanut butter.
Beat it until it is smooth.  Mix in the flour, baking soda, salt.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 mins, or until lightly browned.




Enjoy with a big glass of milk!

Pumpkin Spice Cake

A piece of pumpkin spice cake <3

This is a delicious cake.  The warm spices paired with the pumpkin is so good!
Me and my mommy made this cake  together the other day and I loved it, I know you will too! 

Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cups granulated sugar

]1 cup cooking oil

14 oz. canned pumpkin

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).  Beat eggs in a mixing bowl until frothy.  Add sugar.  Beat until fluffy and lemony in color.

Mix in oil and pumpkin slowly.  Beat well.

Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until moistened.  Turn into greased and floured 10 inch (25 cm) angel food tube pan.  Bake in oven for about 1 hour or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

Let it cool. Enjoy a nice big slice! 

There's nothing like a delicious Pakistani dinner (:

I had dinner at Gulberg's this weekend.  Gulberg's is a Pakistani Restaurant! It has amazing food. I love it!

Appetizers!

Chaat Papri - Served with boiled chickpeas,
chilies, yogurt, tamarind chutney topped with spices

Dahi Bhalle - Ground lentil balls deep fried, dipped in yogurt,
served with chutney

Maash daal - Lentils 

Daal Makhni - Lentils 

Fresh Roti

Rice

http://gulbergrestaurant.com/
509-15950 Fraser Highway, Surrey

Perfect Palak Paneer

Palak paneer is an Indian dish that combines fresh spinach with a fresh cheese called paneer in a creamy curry. It is wonderfull served with naan or basmati rice.  The key to this dish is all of the amazing spices.

Palak Paneer served with roti

Ingredients:

6 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger root
2 red chili peppers
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground turmeric
3/4 cup sour cream
3 lbs fresh spinach
1 large tomato, quartered
8 ounces of paneer
Sea salt to taste

Directions

1.  In a large saucepan heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and saute garlic, 1/2 tablespoon of ginger, red chilies and onion until brown.  Mix in teh cumin, coriander, turmeric and sour cream (more or less to achieve desired creaminess.) Add the spinach, handfuls at a time until it is cooked down, about 15 mins in total.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

2. Pour spinach mixture into a blender or food processor and add the tomato, the remaining 1/2 tbsp of ginger and cilantro (more or less according to taste).  Blend for 15 to 30 seconds, or until the spinach is finely chopped.  Pour back into the saucepan and keep warm over low heat.

 

3.  In a medium frying pan heat 3 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat and fry cheese until browned; drain and add to spinach. Cook for 10 mins on low heat.  Season with salt to taste.

Enjoy on top of steamed basmati rice or fresh naan and roti! 

Aysha's Homemade Spaghetti

Spaghetti is always a delicious meal to have.  This recipe is quick and yummy.  You have to try it!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 cup celery, minced

1 pound lean ground beef

1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp lemon and herb seasoning mix
1 cup fresh chopped mushrooms

2 cups tomato sauce

1 pound spaghetti

3 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 

Sprinkle of grated cheese

Directions

1.  In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium high heat; saute onion for 2 minutes.  Then add celery, garlic and mushrooms.

2. Then add the meat; cook until no longer pink. Add all of the seasonings. 

3.  Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil with salt.  Put the spaghetti into the water and cook for 7 to 8 minutes only.

5.  When ready to serve, combine pasta with meat sauce. If desired, top with fresh basil and cheese. 

Pakistani Chicken Pulao

Chicken Pulao is such a yummy dish.  It is rice cooked with chicken in it.   The aromatic spices and flavors give it the most amazing taste ever.  This is one of my all time favorite foods in the world.  No one can beat my grandma's pulao.  You have to try this dish, I guarantee you will love it!

Ingredients:

1 large chicken (skinned and cut into pieces)
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 tsp. Garlic paste
1 tsp. Ginger paste
1 large Onion (chopped)
4 Cardamom pods
1 tsp. Whole cumin seeds
1 tsp. Cloves
2-3 Green chilies (chopped)
1 tsp. Red chili powder
1/2 tsp. Turmeric powder
1 cup Tomato puree or 2 cups chopped tomatoes
1 cup Fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup Fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
2 cups Long grain rice/basmati rice
2 tbsp Clarified butter (Ghee) or oil
4 cups Water

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large pot.  When the oil is hot, add onions and whole spices.  Stir fry for a few minutes, add ginger and garlic paste.  Reduce heat and add powdered spices.  Do not burn them.

2.  Add tomatoes.  When they are well mixed, add plain yogurt and stir well.

3.  Add chicken pieces and mint leaves and stir well so that the yogurt masala coats the chicken well.
Cook for 30-40 minutes on medium heat until the chicken is cooked.

4.  Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.

5.  Add 2 cups of rice and salt to taste.

6. Cook on low heat with the lid on until the rice is cooked.

7.  Sprinkle coriander leaves on top and lightly mix.

8.  Serve on a plate with yogurt and salad.

Enjoy!

"Love at First Bite" Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Freshly baked perfect Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These are the yummiest, easiest and best tasting cookies you will come across in your life.
They are perfectly moist on the inside with just the perfect outer texture.
You honestly have to try them.

1 cup Butter or margarine, softened
1 cup Brown sugar, packed
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/4 Rolled Oats
1 cup Raisins

Cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
Bake in 350F (180C) oven to 8 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy your perfect oatmeal raisin cookies!

Gelato in Fort Langley

Fort Langley is one of the best places when it comes to gelato.
Gelato is the Italian version of ice-cream.  It is made from milk instead of cream and is known for its real, rich and bold flavours.  It is honestly one of the best sweet desserts you will ever taste.

I was in Fort Langley to film a music video for a school project and my friends and I decided to go to Maria's Gelato.  The selection of flavours make it a hard choice to decide on a flavour.  The last few times I visited I got hazelnut gelato and pistachio gelato.  This time I tried bachio (hazelnut and chocolate)

IT WAS SO YUMMY.
If you are ever in Fort Langley, this is the place to go!

Bottom left corner - Bachio Gelato
Top corner - Strawberry Sorbetto
Bottom right corner - hazelnut Gelato 

Rice Krispy Balls!

This is a fast, easy and delicious sweet treat!
I made these with my grandma yesterday <3 You have to try this recipe. I hope you enjoy.

INGREDIENTS

50 mL 1/4 cup margarine or butter
250 g 1 pkg (about 40) regular marshmallows or 5 cups miniature
2 mL 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1.5 L 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

PREPARATION

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat.  Add marshmellows and stir until completely melted.  Remove from heat.

2.  Stir in vanilla.  Then stir in rice krispies cereal until well coated.  Using a lightly butted spatula, press into a buttered pan.

3.  Allow mixture to cool.  Cut into bars.  They taste best is served the same day.

(Instead of putting the rice krispies into a pan, we pressed them into circles.  They will cool the exact same way and both are absolutely a delight to serve)

Now you're ready to eat. Enjoy :)