Tag: yummy

My Grandma’s Chocolate Recipe

When I was in India, my grandmother showed me how to make a quick and easy chocolate. The recipe was so simple, yet delicious. Now, back in the US, I decided to try it out again. It turned out really well, so I decided to share it with you!

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Water
  1. Grease a plate with a bit of butter.
  2. Sieve the milk and cocoa powders together.
  3. Soak the sugar in a bit of water, then bring it to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Keep on heat until it reaches a one-string consistancy.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the butter and milk and cocoa powders.
  5. Stir.
  6. Once fully incorporated, pour into the plate and let it set.
  7. Enjoy!

What’s a recipe you love!

Butter Chicken: A Recipe

I love butter chicken. It’s a comfort food and I always feel at home when eating it. Whenever I go out to Indian restaurants, I always order butter chicken (or paneer) and naan (though I do try new things). Butter chicken is something I’ll always come back to and I love it a lot.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lb of boneless skinless chicken tenders, cut into big cubes
  • 2 tbsp yogurt
  • 1/2 tbsp oil
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • around 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 small cloves of mashed garlic
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 3 large cloves of mashed garlic
  • 1 inch mashed ginger
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 8 oz. canned tomato sauce
  • 2 tomatoes, pureed
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • dried fenugreek (kasturi meethi)

Directions:

  1. To marinate the chicken, add the yogurt, oil, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp garam masala, and the small cloves of garlic. Mix well, then add the chicken and coat it with the marinade. Cover and let marinate for 30 minutes.
  2. Set Foodi to the Saute mode on hot. Add the butter and once it starts melting, add the onions. Saute until the onions start browning.
  3. Add the large cloves of garlic (mashed) and the ginger (mashed). Also add 1/2 tsp of garam masala and the sugar. Cook for around a minute, stirring often.
  4. Add the marinated chicken, paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp cayenne. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.
  5. Add the tomato sauce and the pureed tomatoes and mix well. Put the pressure cooker lid on the Foodi and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Make sure it’s set on seal.
  6. Release the pressure, then add the heavy cream and the fenugreek.
  7. Enjoy!

Easy Pasta Recipe

I recently made a delicious turkey spaghetti with my Ninja Foodi. It came out really well, so I thought that I’d share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb ground turkey
  • 1/2 of a chopped onion
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 3 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped
  • 4 oz spaghetti noodles (broken into halves or thirds)
  • 7 oz can of diced tomatoes
  • 12 oz jar of marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup water
  • parmesan cheese (to garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Turn the Foodi on to the Sauté setting. When it is hot, add the ground turkey, 1 tbsp olive oil, and the onions. Break apart the meat by stirring.
  2. Add the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and basil. Cook for a few minutes, while occasionally stirring until the meat is mostly done.
  3. Add the garlic and cook for around a minute.
  4. Scatter in the spaghetti noodles randomly.
  5. Pour the diced tomatoes over the noodles as evenly as possible and don’t stir.
  6. Pour on the spaghetti sauce completely covering all of the noodles (exposed noodles may not cook fully).
  7. Pour in the broth and the water down the side of the Foodi, so the sauce doesn’t wash off of the noodles. Do not stir.
  8. Close the lid and lock it in place. Set the steam release knob to the Seal position and cancel the Saute setting.
  9. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button and set the time to 7 minutes.
  10. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. Once all the pressure has released, you can open the lid.
  11. Stir the spaghetti well, so that the sauce and the noodles can blend. Garnish with the parmesan cheese.
  12. Enjoy!

Recipe: Pasta Chips

Recently, I made pasta chips with an air fryer (using the Ninja Foodi air crisp option). I love the crunchiness and the flavor of the chips and they were great as a snack. There are a few ways to make it and different ingredients that you can use. This is the way that I made it!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pasta- I used farfalle, but you can use any type
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°
  2. Cook the pasta al-dente, following the instructions on the box.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, add the rest of the ingredients.
  4. After the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the seasoning mix.
  5. Stir so that every piece of pasta has some coating on it.
  6. Once the air fryer is preheated, add the pasta in and let it cook for around 5 minutes (make sure that pasta is coating every part of the base)
  7. Then, mix it up a bit and let it cook for another 2 minutes.
  8. Enjoy!

Recipe: Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese

This is a recipe I recently made. It came out really well and I enjoyed it a lot. I did it on a Ninja Foodi Instapot.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cup small shell pasta
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (any type)
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 butter
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • Panko breadcrumbs

Directions:

  1. Add the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream and pasta into the pot and stir.
  2. Close the pressure cooker lid and make sure that it’s set at seal. Set to high for 3 minutes. Let it release pressure, then release the rest of steam.
  3. Lift the lid carefully and stir in 3 Tbsp of butter, then stir so it can melt. Then add in the cheese and stir until melted. Add whipping cream if needed (for a less sticky consistency). Season with pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder and stir.
  4. Sprinkle some cheese and breadcrumbs on top of cooked mac and cheese.
  5. Close the air crisp lid and air crisp at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  6. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy!

My Favorite Brownie Recipe

I’ve made brownies many times, but there is one recipe which I consider the best. Everyone loves the recipe, which is a perfect combination of fudgy and crispy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup melted butter
  • 3 cups sugar  (white)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a deep baking dish (9×13 is the preferred size).
  2. Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Beat in the eggs until blended.
  3. Gradually stir the flour, cocoa powder, and salt into the egg mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread the batter evenly into the baking pan.
  4. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool pan on rack before cutting.
  5. Enjoy!

Do you have any go-to brownie recipes?

How to make a Quick and Easy Payasam

This Diwali, I learned how to make a simple and quick payasam. It was delicious and I really enjoyed the making of it, so I decided to share the recipe with you! By the way, this is a shortcut payasam which takes only about 15-20 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp warm milk
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom seeds
  • pinch of saffron
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 3 tbsp chopped nuts (you can also add raisins)
  • 1/2 cup roasted seemiya
  • 2 1/2 cup warm whole milk
  • 1/2 cup condensed milk

Directions

  1. Soak the saffron and cardamom in the 3 tbsp warm milk and set to side.
  2. In a non-stick pan, heat ghee, and fry nuts.
  3. Once the nuts are golden brown, remove and put on a plate.
  4. In the same pan, add the seemiya.
  5. Add the 2 1/2 cup whole milk to the seemiya.
  6. Let it cook for 7 minutes.
  7. Now add the condensed milk.
  8. Add the nuts and the saffron/cardamom/milk mixture.
  9. Let it simmer for 3 minutes.
  10. Enjoy!

Oreo Fudge: A Recipe

Recently I made oreo fudge. This recipe was so good and absolutely delicious. It’s very sweet and very tasty. The best part is that you only need three ingredients! It was really fun to make and I definitely enjoyed the process.

Ingredients

  • 18 oz white chocolate
  • 14 oz condensed milk
  • 2.5 cups coarsely crushed oreos

Directions

  1. Line a pan with parchment paper
  2. Prepare a double boiler and melt the white chocolate and condensed milk with the boiler, stirring often.
  3. Remove the bowl with the chocolate and condensed milk and add in the crushed oreos. Stir gently.
  4. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan. Spread evenly.
  5. Let the fudge set by cooling it for at least 45 minutes
  6. Cut the fudge as you wish and enjoy!

Mav Urundai

I roll the ball between my palms, wincing a bit from the heat. As I take in my family mingling around the kitchen, I smile. I am right where I want to be, in my kitchen making mav urundai.

Mav urundai is so easy to make! I can make at least 6 delicious roasted bengal gram balls in less than 10 minutes. They taste really good and I always have to stop myself from eating more. Each urundai is small, but it fills you up perfectly. It’s a great time to be with family. Sitting around our table, we crack jokes and play games, all while having a small mav urundai snack.

I bite into the little ball and a flood of memories come rushing through my mind. Mav urundai reminds me of so many things. I take a small bite and vividly remember days with my grandparents, having fun in the sun, and so many more wonderful things. Happiness washes over me as I finish the urundai and reach for another one.

I love mav urundai. It reminds me of home and is a great and easy snack. I totally recommend making this for a light and easy treat!

Mint Girl’s Mav Urundai Recipe

Ingredients:

  • half cup roasted bengal grams (porikadalai)
  • .37 cup of powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ghee

Steps:

  1. Finely grind the bengal grams
  2. Add the powdered sugar and mix well
  3. Melt the ghee in a saucepan.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the powdered mix
  5. Mix well and start shaping balls
  6. Enjoy!

Mint Girl Goes to Carrabba’s

When you walk into Carrabba’s, the first thing that hits you is the smell and the bustle of people. Carrabba’s is an Italian restaurant in Upper Kirby in Houston. This restaurant is a bustling place with many people, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.

The service at Carrabba’s is very nice. We were seated almost immediately and a waiter was with us soon. Our waiter was very attentive and full of suggestions. Out of all suggestions, I enjoyed the dessert the most. We ordered the seasonal special; the Italian Sundae. The sundae had a vanilla ice cream base. Topping the ice cream was a drizzle of strawberry balsamic vinegar glaze and crumbled almond biscotti . It was absolutely delicious.

We ate family style; sharing everything from everyone’s plate. We got the Minestrone soup, Mamma Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken, Mushroom Ravioli, Stuffed Shrimp Mandola, and my favorite classic…..Margarita Pizza!

Every thing we ate tasted amazing. I don’t think you can go wrong at Carrabba’s.