Homemade Bagels with Jalapeno Cream Cheese spread

This is another one in the line of my attempts to recreate at home a commonly available preparation that I thought for the longest time nearly impossible or at least too difficult to create at home. The humble bagel definitely proved to me it sure is a little tricky and requires attention to detail to get the best result. I speak from experience. The first time I tried it, it got too chewy and tough. After much I though I figured out where I was going wrong. To get the right taste and texture, you have to be very mindful of how long you boil the dough, the right pinch of baking soda and finally baking it just right. Once you get it how you want it, and not to mention with the easy-to-put-together but outta this world jalapeno spread, a fresh out of the oven hot bagel with a spicy spread will be close to if not the best kind of bread you ever had.

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English Muffins!

Another ode to my love for bread. As much as I love eating different kinds, I love making them too. Take a look at the 'Breads' category and you will know what I mean. Talk about some serious bragging rights. Bread baking for me is almost therapeutic. The kneading is the best part (if you are mad at someone, this is the best way to calm yourself down. Yes, it works every time for me... lol). To be able to get out a loaf of delicious bread from a few everyday ingredients is a wonder - not to mention the smell of fresh baked bread that fills the house. The excitement to see the dough rise and then finally cut into it and see how perfect it came out... aah it is almost a high for me (I know I know this is probably the hundredth time I am writing this)... but its true :)
The english muffin got my curiosity only recently. It is not something that is commonly known in India. That one day when hubs got it for us at the mall food court I have wanted to make it ever since and am proud to declare they came out really good.
With some butter or jam spread, they are perfect for a quick breakfast and can even be quickly made into a burger for a light lunch. Whats more is that you do not need and oven to make them, they can be made right on your stove top in a regular pan. I had a batch ready when my little one got back from school all exhausted and hungry. She ate a couple before even getting her shoes off and invented a new kind of sandwich while she was at it, english muffins with cheddar slice and butter!

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Pizza Hut Style Breadsticks with Dipping Sauce ~ All Homemade

Those among my readers that like to cook and experiment in the kitchen will surely agree that recreating a dish that you had somewhere just by memory and getting similar results, if not better, has that extra special kick. You get to eat what you like and can do it whenever you like without having to drive out, not to mention at a fraction of the cost. If you have followed my work, you would know I am a bread lover. Every now and then we take kiddo to our local dine-in Pizza Hut for her fix of pizza. I hit the salad bar and mostly load up on that while hubs and the little one tear open little packets of grated parmesan, sprinkle on their slice and devour it while emphatically claiming how good it was. They offer me a slice which I gladly accept. Every now and then we order a side of breadsticks as well. It would probably be no surprise to you when I say I love those. This weekend I pushed my memory a little and attempted to make them at home. Yes it a success story and a nice one at that. They came out just perfect. Light and fluffy, slightly crispy at the bottom and perfectly seasoned with cheese and spices. I had a taste and instantly knew they will be a hit. My proof came when kiddo, who never wants to eat, took one stick and walked away. Couple of minutes later she returned to the kitchen saying 'mommy can I have one more please'. I did not need to hear any more.

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Garlic pull apart bread

f you have known me at all over the last almost two years, you would know that among the few things that I totally love in any form, bread is definitely high up in the list. This bread was on my radar for a while just waiting for the right moment. So when I ran into the perfect recipe I just got to making it. Most of us love garlic bread. Yes I know you wait for those rolls to show up when dining out in an Italian restaurant. Those half-dozen that show up just after you've placed your order and just when you are munching on the last one, knowing well that your food is about to show up, you think twice whether you should ask for more, decide to hold back but ask for another set anyway. If that sounds familiar, you will love this bread. The added charm is that they are not just any garlic bread. Of course the intense garlic flavor with a hint of fine parmesan over a crusty yet soft bread is all there, but add to that the fact that they are a mosaic of randomly set rolls all neatly shaped up into a bundt. But wait there's more. When you see the bundt and as you admire the mosaic, just as you wonder on how to dig into it, you almost involuntarily grab a piece and pull on it and voila that's when you realize why this bread has 'pull-apart' in its name. Looks even better with a piece missing, doesn't it.

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Instant Jalebi!

realize this is a day after Diwali but festivity is still in the air, right! Hope all you guys had a very prosperous and fun filled Diwali!
Diwali or Deepawali is the Festival of Lights. It is a time that is much awaited all year round by children and adults alike. A time of celebration, prayers, holidays, family, fun, fireworks and of course food - lots of it. It is one of the most important religious and cultural festivals in India bringing family and friends together. Diwali is one of the biggest and most celebrated Hindu festivals. In my Chandrakala post on Dussehera a few weeks ago I spoke about Lord Rama and his victory over evil. After vanquishing the evil Ravana, Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana come back home after 14 years of banishment. Since then, that day is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as Diwali!

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Basic White Bread

Within the last few months I have baked (and posted) several types of breads and bread based recipes (garlic buns, stuffed buns, braided bread, dinner rolls, pizzas, flat breads like naan etc) and each time around I have expressed my love for Mr. Yeast. The basic white bread however had been my nemesis. I had tried it a couple of times before and it turned out okay but the perfectionist in me was never satisfied. They bread looked okay and tasted good but I knew something was missing. Texturally it was not quite there as the professionally made ones.
Bread baking for me is almost therapeutic. The kneading is the best part (if you are mad at someone, this is the best way to calm yourself down. Yes, it works every time for me... lol). To be able to get out a loaf of delicious bread from a few ingredients is a wonder - not to mention the smell of fresh baked bread that fills the house. The excitement to see the dough rise and then finally cut into it and see how perfect it came out... aah it is almost a high for me (I know I know this is probably the hundredth time I am writing this)... but its true :)

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Mushroom Truffle Pizza with Arugula

After Mr. Yeast became my friend and successfully baking some basic dishes, of course Pizza came to mind. Then I got the dough right. Since then pizza has been a regular in our home. I have tried different kinds ranging from you regular veggie, cheese, chocolate to even an Indian Paneer Tikka version. Pizza has always kept me curious of what you can do with it.

A few months back hubby had to go to Canada on a business trip. He extended his trip by a couple of days and we decided to make a vacation out of it and we all went as a family. One evening in Ottawa city we were looking for a place for dinner... anything besides Indian. Don't get me wrong, Canada has some of the best Indian food, arguably better than you find here in the States, its just that we'd had it a couple of nights in a row already. As we walked around the quaint little marketplace, stopping by the entrance of every restaurant and reading the menu posted on the door (and rejecting them as they did not serve any vegetarian dishes besides maybe a salad) we found this pizza place. They had this mushroom truffle pizza. We asked the waitress if it had any meat in it and ordered it. They had it simply as a pizza with a spread of a mushroom pesto made in truffle oil (I made it slightly different as you'll see in this recipe).  That was our first introduction to truffles and let me tell you if you have never had truffles, I bet it will change your list of the top few things you have ever eaten.

That pizza has since been stuck in my head. The other day I found this coveted little bottle of truffle oil in our local farmer's market. Hubby was like 'You sure you got the right thing, you can't have a five ounce bottle cost thirty five bucks!' Deep down I knew he was lucky I wasn't asking him to buy me the real truffles :) I haven't had the pleasure of having them but have heard a couple of them could cost you upwards of a grand! Anyway, the oil worked best for my budget and worked it sure did... a few drops of it changed the 'Mushroom pizza' to a 'Mushroom truffle pizza'. Can you not tell the difference just from the name!

He ate the pizza I made that evening. He hasn't complained about it since.

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Whole Wheat Stuffed Buns

ince the past few days I was craving those spicy veg stuffed buns which we used to always eat from our local fav bakeries back home. These are basically soft buns stuffed with a spicy veg filling. Also the fact that Mr. Yeast  and I are now on good terms... in fact we are now friends :) gave me some added courage to try it for myself. Let me tell you, if you are yeast skeptic as I was before, once you start getting comfortable with yeast you will want to use in everything... they are addictive. After making the pav buns a few weeks ago I thought to give this a try and boy I was glad I did as these turned out fantabulous... and so perfect we loved it. They were tasty to the last bite and very very addictive.  Smelled heavenly while baking and were gone in no time once they came out of the oven. A super hit!!!! The best part my hubby said these are the best buns he has ever eaten and they tasted better than the store bought ones ;D

I tried  to make them little healthier by using whole wheat  flour... so that I can continuously convince myself while gobbling them up that these are healthy and so ok to eat and not feel guilty afterwards... he he which I did!!

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Butter Garlic Naan

his being the first recipe in my blog, I will start with the recipe for one of the most famous and loved Indian bread, the one and only NAAN. It's our (me and my hubby's) all time favorite bread. Soft yet toasty leavened bread soaked in butter.. then dipped in curry of your choice.. ahhh.. out of this world :) just yum!! We used to always order this whenever in any Indian restaurant but never tried making this at home. For me it was just something only a restaurant chef can make, just so out of my boundaries...Then i got married, came to the US with my dear hubby started my cooking adventures (burning roties, making overly salted sabjis, using salt in place of sugar in desserts, etc :)). Slowly and gradually with the support and trust of dear hubby I started getting comfortable in the kitchen tweaking, experimenting with different recipes and here I am with my very own food blog.
One thing that we miss here in the US is the luxury of having good Indian food available at any street corner you turn which we used to take so for granted in India. We used to crave for good naan, paneer butter masala.. (especially given my cooking expertise) and also didn't have the enthusiasm to drive 10 -15 miles every time for getting to the nearest indian restaurant in the area. So one day I just decided to make these at home and you guessed it I failed miserably. I started looking for recipes on the internet tried and tweaked some. In the process I finally learned how to make really good naan. I have tried making naan using a pressure cooker, grill, oven and even stove top. On regular basis at home I usually make this with atta or whole wheat flour and avoid butter. It tastes awesome and is also figure friendly (see notes).
Naan is basically a round/oval shaped bread made with maida (all purpose flour), salt, yeast culture and yogurt, cooked in a clay oven or a Tandoor. Here I am giving the recipe for traditional Indian naan using maida cooked in an American oven SO enjoy and hope you like the recipe.

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