Milk Chocolate

When I was going through my MIL's recipe collection during the search for jujups, I came across few interesting recipes. This is one among them. Few ingredients and minimal time caught my attention. Decided to try it. MIL said ,since she has not tried it, can't guarantee if it is foolproof. I thought, anything with cocoa and sugar must be edible, irrespective of the end product texture
The recipe called for milk powder. That is something which doesn't find place in my grocery list. I haven't felt the need to use milk powder before. Later I found some recipes in blogosphere, which makes use of this. From now on, I think it is going to be a must buy in the shopping list.

With the following measurement, It takes only 10 minutes of cooking time. And you get absolutely yummy milk chocolate. Kids will be asking for more. Its almost an instant chocolate. Its worth trying. Let me go to the recipe

Milk Powder - 1 cup
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Coco Powder - 3 tblspn
Butter - 1 tblspn
Water - 1/2 cup
Roasted cashew - 3 tblspn ( this is my addition)

Mix milk powder and coco powder well.
Take a kadai. Add sugar and water and make syrup of 1 string consistency.
Add butter.
When butter melts completely, add cashew and milk, coco powder mixture. Mix well.
Keep stirring for a minute or two.
Transfer to a greased plate. Since it doesn't set immediately, like other sweets, you need not be in a hurry to spread and make it even.
Allow it to set. After 5 minutes, you can mark them in desired shape.
If you have chocolate moulds, you can as well scoop into them. No refrigeration required.

When I tried first, I had reduced the amount of cocoa and didnot add any cashew. It still tasted good. This is the result of first trial.

Microwave Paneer butter masala in 15 minutes

I tried this gravy for the first time in microwave. It came out decent(beyond my expectation). I like the stove top method though. It is tastier than microwave method. Here is the recipe. I did not add butter in this recipe. If you want, you may add.

Ingredients:
1. Chilli powder
2. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
3. Garama masala powder - 1/4 tsp
4. Kitchen king masala -1 tsp
5. Coriander powder - 1 tsp
6. Curd - 1 tbsp
7. Paneer chopped
8. Coriander leaves - to garnish
9. Kasuri methi(optional) - a few sprigs
10. Salt

To grind to a paste:
Tomatoes - 2
Onions - 1/2
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
Cashews - 10 to 15

Method:
In a microwavable container(preferably glass), add 1 tbsp oil, ground paste, salt, ingredients 1 through 5 and microwave for 12 to 14 minutes(take the gravy out every 3 minutes, stir well and microwave).
Add chopped paneer, curd and microwave for 1 minute. Garnish with coriander leaves and kasuri methi.

A Trip to Majjie's Blog

I took a little trip across "The Pond" tonight to see how Majjie is doing over in the UK.

Majjie is a great blogger and kitchen designer. I like to check up on her every once in a while to see what she's up to design-wise.

She took me touring Mirari Kitchens' sleek and shiny offerings in apple greens and reds. And their glossy glass backsplashes...Interesting.

















Then to Majjie's discussion "Free" Kitchen Designs - Are They Becoming a Thing of the Past?...Looks like the Brits are wising up about You get what you pay for too.

Then to What Do You Want From Your Kitchen Designer?

Now THERE is some food for thought!

Majjie discusses whether her clients prefer to design their own kitchens and have her implement their ideas, or whether she should impose her expertise on their kitchens because she "knows better" and they really don't.

"What I don't want to happen is for any of my clients to be disappointed with the finished result. I'd feel really bad if one of them said to me ... 'you knew this wouldn't really work didn't you? And yet you let me go ahead with it'"

Occasionally, in 25 years of designing kitchens, baths, and other rooms, I have run across a client who really DID design their own kitchen and use me to help them implement their vision.

Much, much, more often it is a collaboration: with me listening to the client's wishes, wants and clues, and then creating a vision for them that is far more than they ever could have imagined on their own.

Then I need to communicate my vision back to the client so that he or she can understand it.

The fact is, if I were turned loose with a client's budget and free rein to spend it any way I wished, then I would be designing a kitchen for myself...not for my client.

It is the give and take and interaction with the client and their space that gets the creative juices flowing. And, when a client throws up roadblocks and hauls me up short to meet what may seem like unreasonable demands; that is what inspires some of the very best solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.

I LOVE what I do.
It's always different and exciting, never boring or mundane.

Thanks Majjie!

Peggy