Quick Oreo Ice Cream / No Machine Needed

Recipe is similar to "Kulfi" / Indian Ice Cream - tasted it from my North Indian friend's house and fell in love with it instantly.

With the availability of Evaporated Milk , Cool Whip and Whipping Cream - making of "Kulfi" is super easy.

 I think this came out to be one of the most delicious dessert / Ice Cream I have ever made.

Super Easy , Super Delicious and Super Rich too ;)

 Recipe slightly adapted from  Showmethecurry.com - Recipe for "Kulfi"

Ingredients

All you need to make Oreo Ice Cream -

Sweetened Condensed Milk - 14 oz Tin
Whipping Cream - 8 oz
Evaporated Milk - 12 oz
Cool Whip - 8 oz
Crushed Oreo Cookies - 2 cups (I used Mini Oreo's)

Method

* Crush lightly Oreo cookies using a rolling pin and keep aside.

* Beat whipping cream for 3 to 5 minutes until it starts to thicken , then add Condensed milk, evaporated milk , beat again to combine (May use a blender ). Add Cool Whip and lightly beat or PULSE to combine everything well.

* Once combined add crushed cookies and transfer to a freezer friendly bowl and freeze for 4 to 6 hour's or overnight.

Warning : Do not taste this before freezing as then you wouldn't have anything left to freeze ;)
And then think of dieting...like I did :(

Yummy Americanized Indian Dessert !

Happy Weekend :)


Cheers
TN

Whole Wheat Brownies

Tried making these for my NA who brings back everything which I pack in her lunchbox other than 4 pieces of fruits which I keep to make the meal complete for the sake of my satisfaction :)

Since she likes to have cake and desserts, prepared Brownies as part of the trial and error strategy that I am doing to make her complete the Lunch, though this is going on for almost 2 years now :( 

These are healthy snack and also may enjoy it heated with a dollop of Ice cream to serve as a hot Dessert. Came out really well hence thought to share it here.

Slighlty adapted from The Pioneer Woman 's recipe of Dark Chocolate Brownies.

Ingredients 

Semi Sweet Chocolate chips - 1/4 cup 

Butter - 1/2 cup 

Salt - a pinch

Cocoa Powder - 3 Tb Sp 

Brown  Sugar - 1 cup

Vanilla essence - 3/4 tsp 

Espresso Powder / Instant Coffee - 1/4 tsp 

Eggs - 3 no's

Wheat Flour - 1/2 cup (I used Asshirvaad brand available in any Indian store, these are superfine)

All Purpose Flour - 1/4 cup 

Any nuts and Chocolate chips - 3/4 cup (Together) I used Almonds and Cashew nuts

Powdered Sugar  for sifting / decoration - Optional 

Method 

* Preheat Oven to 350 Degree F 

* In an saucepan , melt Butter with semi sweet Chocolate chips (1/4cups) over low heat. Sprinkle Cocoa Powder and whisk to combine, add salt and coffee powder , once combined and all melted , remove from heat and keep aside to cool. 

* Stir in brown Sugar and vanilla essence to the above mixture when cooled. 

* One at a time stir in eggs , add all purpose flour and stir again 

* Add Chocolate chips and nuts to the batter and gently fold in the wheat flour and mix all ingredients until well combined.

* Pour this batter to a greased baking pan ( I used small square shaped pan, lined with foil) Bake in 350 Degree F for 35 to 40 Minutes until a tester comes out clean. 

* Cool Completely , cut in to squares and sprinkle with Powdered Sugar (Optional) 

Store in an airtight Container. 

Delicious and Healthy Brownies !!

Try it to Believe :)

Cheers

TN

Oats Puttu

"Puttu" the most popular Breakfast Item in Kerala, though I personally doesn't prefer this dish.

The reason for my dislike is that I took almost 3 years to prepare this with all its goodness.
Being Soccer Man's most liked BF Dish, I tried all possible ways to make it , lot many times during the initial months after our marriage ...but my desperate trial to get hubby's approval and appreciation didn't work anyway and then I remember at some point I decided to never try making it in my life.

Sounds funny right ???This would be a joke to anybody who makes "Puttu" I know as this is one of the most easiest break fast item, still I took 3-4 years to successfully make it at home. 

And at last I realized that the "Puttu -Kuthi " / Puttu Maker-or steamer which I was using at that time had some defects which stopped steam from letting in and hence it didn't get completely cooked and
 I had no clue about it :)

It was during my visit to our relatives house In CA that I had this " Oats Puttu " and  believe me this  tastes  even better than the usual Rice puttu and lot more nutritious too

Ingredients 

Oats - 2 cups 

Hot water - 1/2 (Approx) 

Salt - to taste 

Grated Coconut - 2 Tb Sp  (Approx)

Method 

* Either dry roast oats in medium to high heat for 5 to 8 minutes stirring vigorously or else bake these on a flat baking tray for 5 to 10 minutes in 350 Degree F, this helps to grind'em easier and also saves time while cooking. Once done cool these.

* Grind to powder (Make it fine or coarse powder as per your preference)

* Keep water to boil in a Puttu steamer , its good to add 1 or 2 crushed garlic and some Fennel seeds to the water , as then the Puttu will have nice aroma. 

* Add salt and water slowly to the Oats powder and mix to lightly wet'em , combine to make a crumby mixture. 

   To test its consistency, take little of the mixture in your hands , try to shape it, it should hold its shape and should break once slightly pressed. Cover and keep this mixture for some time (15 to 20 minutes , the longer it sits its good) 

* In a puttu maker or any steamer , place some grated coconut first and layer with the oats mixture, may repeat to make multiple layers. and steam these for 5 to 10 minutes as done for regular Puttu.

* These are traditionally served with Kadala Curry / Curry with Chick Peas / Black Channa. Though I like to have it with nice ripe banana and sugar. 

If making these for the first time , do check the steamer once again......

 ;) 

Cheers
TN

Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate Cup Cakes in Chocolate Cups - The Winner

That was an awesome experience competing for a Cup Cake contest conducted as part of the Utah State Fair. This Cup cake Won 2nd Prize and that was the unforgettable Birthday in my life and the most valued Birthday Gift.

Last week they had a similar contest when I made some  Indian cookies , but then more than me my NA - my helper , was so disappointed that she started crying when she came to know that we didn't get a prize :) and I had to rush from there so that the people wouldn't come to know the reason for her sadness...However this time I taught her how to react when you lose , though I knew that she would definitely cry as 

And I was happy to see her all excited , jumping and laughing when we heard that our Cup cake won. Even I wanted to jump out of excitement but I restricted my self as in India , while I was brought up Girls were taught to stay calm and quiet and not to over react to situations especially when we are out side our house :(
Glad that there are slight changes happening these days for the good.

Here's the recipe for - Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate cup cakes in Chocolate Cups

Ingredients 

For Cream Cheese Filling 

Cream Cheese - 1 - 8oz Pack in Room Temperature
Egg - 1
Sugar - 1/3 cup Sugar
Vanilla Essence - few Drops
Salt - a pinch


For the Cake


Cocoa powder - 1/3 cup
Boiling hot water - 1 cup
All purpose flour -  1 and 1/3 cup
Baking powder - 2 Tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Unsalted butter in room temperature - 1/2 cup
Granulated white sugar - 3/4 cup
Eggs - 2 Small
Curd - 2 Tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Instant Coffee /Espresso Coffee - 1/4 tsp

Method 

For the Cream Cheese Filling

* Beat all the ingredients till nice and smooth , keep aside.


For the Cake 


* Preheat the Oven to 350 Degree F , Lightly butter 16 Muffin Cups or line with Cupcake Liners and keep aside.

* Mix Cocoa Powder & Espresso coffee to 1 cup Boiling water , stir and Keep aside to cool.

* Sift Together Flour , Baking powder and salt, Keep aside.

* Beat Butter and sugar till light and fluffy , add in eggs one at a time , continue beating.

* Add in curd and Vanilla essence , beat again, slowly add in the flour and Cocoa -water mixture alternately.
  Fold in all the ingredients using a spoon. until well combined.

* Fill in the muffin cups 1/3 full with the batter , top with a dollop of Cream cheese mixture,
  Cover this again with a tbsp of batter.

* (Place the rack in the middle of the Oven)  Bake in 350 Degree F for 16 to 20 Minutes until a Tester comes out clean.

* Let sit to cool.

For Frosting 

Semi sweet chocolate Chips - 1/4 cup
Unsalted butter in room temperature - 1/3 cup
Confectioners (icing) sugar - 1 and 1/3 cups
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Method 

* Melt the Chocolate pieces in a double Boiler

* Beat butter until smooth , add in the sugar , continue beating till light and fluffy

* Add Vanilla essence and melted chocolate to it, combine well.

Once the cup cakes are cooled , frost these and serve, may simply spread the frost over the cake or else transfer to a piping bag and pipe designs on the cake.

These Cakes were placed in Chocolate molds made by melting Semi sweet Chocolate -
 Step by step procedure for  making of chocolate cups
                               Click " Gift Box Cake / Strawberries in Chocolate Cups  "

Happy Birthday to me :)

Cheers
TN