Macaroni Casserole

I learnt this recipe from my mother in law. It is really good.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (small size) - if using regular size then one and half cup
2. half pound ground beef
3. one tin of processed cheese - about 8 oz of processed cheese
4. one tomatoe chopped
5. half tablespoon garlic
6. salt to taste
7. one medium onion chopped
8. one cup sharp cheddar cheese
9. one fourth cup cheddar cheese for sprinkling on top
10. one egg

Cook macaroni until tender.Meanwhile in a separate container mix cheddar cheese, processed cheese, and egg. In a separate pan heat one tablespoon of oil and add onion. Wait until onion turns golden brown then add garlic paste. Add ground beef, and chopped tomatoe. Add salt to taste.
In a 13 xs 9 pan layer macaroni, then beef, then cheese mixture. Repeat until you have two layers. Sprinkle one fourth cup cheddar cheese on top. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Black pepper chicken

This is a good twist to chicken.

1. One and half tsp freshly ground black pepper
2. ginger and garlic paste one tablespoon
3. One tsp coriander powder
4. One tsp cumin powder
5. Two tsps chili powder
6. One tsp tumeric
7. Whole garam masala
8. Two cloves
9. Two cardamoms
10. Three small one inch cinnamon sticks
11. Half pound chicken
12. One medium onion chopped
13. Three Roma tomatoes
14. cilantro chopped for garnish

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan add three tablespoons of oil. Add whole garam masala and chopped onion. Saute onion until they become golden brown. Add ginger and garlic paste. Add tumeric and red chili powder. Add cumin and coriander. Add tomatoes. Cook tomatoes until they are mushy. Add chicken and fry for five minutes. Lower heat to medium and add a glass of water. Cook until chicken is tender. Add black pepper. Mix and garnish with cilantro. 

Tuna cutlets

If you're on a budget these cutlets will save you money. They are also big time saver.

You will need:

Ingredients:

1. Two cans tuna
2. Two medium sized potatoes
3. 1 tsp red chili powder
4. 3/4 tsp tumeric
5. Salt 
6. One egg
7. Italian bread crumbs
8. One tsp lemon juice

Microwave potatoes until soft. Mash potatoes with tuna and add spices. Add squeeze of lemon juice
Mixed by hand all ingredients and form into small patties. Coat each patty with egg mixture and then bread crumb mixture. Fry in some oil until patty turns golden brown on all sides. Enjoy.

Tuna cutlets being fried

Simple cheesecake bars with red strawberry sauce

Do you have a few bars of cream cheese lying in the fridge? Some unused graham crackers? If so this recipe so for you. I halved the recipe for classic cheesecake from kraftrecipes.com.

For Cheesecake: 

1. preheat oven to 325 degrees 
2. Two eight ounce bars of cream cheese 
3. Two eggs 
4. Graham cracker crumbs - one and one third cup
5. half tsp vanilla
6. half cup sugar
7. Butter- one third cup
8. three tablspoons sugar

 Combine graham cracker crumbs with three tablespoons sugar and butter. Press mixture into 13 xs 9 in pan.

Combine cream cheese with sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Pour cream cheese batter over this. Bake in oven for about 30 minutes or until cheesecake is firm.

Spread strawberry topping over cheesecake. Best served chilled.

Strawberry sauce:

1. 8 to 10 large strawberries
2. four tablespoons of sugar
3. one tsp cornstarch

Chop strawberries into small pieces. In a small pan add strawberries and about 1/2 cup water. Cook strawberries until they soften and add cornstarch and sugar. Mix. Keep cooking until strawberries are mashed. Add more water if too thick. Use this red sauce for spreading over cheesecake. 

Mitthi Daal (Sweet Daal)

I learnt this recipe from my mother who is very good at cooking. This daal preparation is very good by itself especially during winter season when it is cold. It can also be eaten with white rice or chapati. Here is what you will need:

1.5 cups moong daal 1/2 tablespoon ginger and garlic paste 5 green chilis 1/4 cup cilantro Half onion sliced thinly Roast the daal on a pan on medium to low heat for about 5 mins. Soak moong daal in sufficient water, add chopped green chilis, cilantro and ginger and garlic paste. Stir all together and let it cook on medium heat until daal is softened. After cooled down grind to a smooth paste. Add water to make a soup like consistency. Add cilantro more for garnish. Shallow fry onion in some oil until golden brown. Add the onion to the dal and stir. Dal is ready.

Zuchinni Mutton

I love zuchinni. Heres my recipe for zuchinni mutton, a healthy and satisfying dish.

Ingredients: two tsps chili powder two tsps tumeric half tablespoon ginger and garlic paste two and half zuchinni mutton one pound onion one medium chopped three medium tomatoes chopped salt to taste Peel and chop zuchinni into small cubes. Similarly finely chop an onion into small peices. Do the same with the tomatoes. Add two tablespoons of oil to a pressure cooker. To this add onion and and fry onion till they are golden brown. Add ginger and garlic paste, tumeric and red chili powder. Add tomatoes and mutton. Fry for five mintues. Close pressure cooker and cook till meat it tender. Add zuchinni to mutton and cook until zuchinni is fork tender. Add salt to taste. Eat with white rice and a papad. Enjoy.

Moist and buttery corn bread

I have never made corn bread in my life, however when I tried it for the first time, this recipe came out pretty good. Here's the ingredients for corn bread:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus butter for baking dish
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

You will need to preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 xs 9 baking dish.

In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, buttermilk, and butter. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the cornmeal mixture and fold together until there are no dry spots (the batter will still be lumpy). Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.

Bake until the top is golden brown and tester inserted into the middle of the corn bread comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the cornbread from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes 
before serving.