We all love red velvet cheesecakes and red velvet cupcakes mainly for the theatrical effect from the red colour. The colour attracts us and the cream cheese on top is the best part. So , let’s make at home    

 I use the recipe from The big book of treats and it is super easy !  

 

INGREDIENTS 

For the cake 

55gms butter

150gms castor sugar 

1 egg

1tbsp red food colouring 

1tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla essence 

100gms yogurt 

A pinch of salt 

120gms flour

1/2 tsp cider vinegar 

1/2tsp baking soda 

For the frosting 

125 gms cold cream cheese

50gms butter

1tsp lemon zest 

300 gms icing sugar

  

 METHOD 

1. preheat oven to 180c

2. In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar together on medium  speed for five mins . Add the egg 

3. In a small bowl whisk together the vanilla , red colour and cocoa powder 

4. Add to the batter and beat well 

5. In seperate bowl mix the yoghurt and salt together. Add to the Batter. Now add the flour 

6. In a small bowl mix the baking soda and the vinegar and add to the batter and beat till combined

7. Then pour it in your cake mould and bake  for about 20 mins 

8. For the frosting , ina large bowl beat the cream cheese and butter together. Then Add the lemon zest and combine  

9. Add in the sugar in three batches and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before using.   

04:09:00

 Sliders are perfect to serve as appetizers or in entrées. Their versitality of size and taste makes them immaculate to eat at any time of day, all you need to do is change the size of the buns accordingly ! 

  

Some burger purists say that a true slider is only made this way (bun, patty, onion, pickle) and that anything else is a considered mini hamburger. But of course today the term slider is used to describe lots of mini sandwiches and you can find them topped with everything from fried chicken to pork belly.(extracted from 5280burgerbar.com)

  INGREDIENTS 

Serves 4 

500gms boneless chicken breast

6-8 burger buns  

1 tsp chopped garlic 

2 medium size chopped onions 

For the marinade 

1 cup bbq sauce

1/2 cup ketchup 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp black pepper

2tsp olive oil 

1 tsp chilli flakes 

For the dip 

1/2 cup mayonnaise 

2 tbsp hot sauce 

2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 

1/2 tsp chilli flakes

                                        

METHOD 

1. In a pan , heat olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic till brown. Set aside 
2. Mix all the ingredients for the chicken marinade in a big bowl 
3. Add the chicken and refrigerate for half an hour 
4. In a pan add the onion mix and the chicken and cook till combined
5. Then take two forks and shred the chicken 
6.                               Add the leftover marinade and serve in heated burger buns 
7.              For the dip combine the mayonnaise, hot sauce ,sweet chilli sauce and chill flakes in a bowl.                                        
8.      Serve along the burger or spread it on the bun

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11:09:00

Chicken seekh is something that is surprisingly very easy to make and yet we go and buy it from outside. So follow this recipe and you’ll never need to buy it from outside again !  

  INGREDIENTS 

500 gms boneless chicken breast ( minced ) 

1 cup breadcrumbs 

2 tsp cream 

1/2 cup coriander ( chopped ) 

2 green chillies ( finely chopped ) 

2 finely chopped red chillies ( or 2 tsp chilli flakes ) 

3/4 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp red chilli powder 

1/2 tsp paprika 

1 tsp Garam masala

1 tsp roasted cumin powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander 

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

2 tbsp olive oil 

2 finely chopped onions ( small size) 

1 tsp chopped garlic 

1 tsp chopped ginger  

METHOD
In a pan add 1 tbsp oil and add the garlic and onions and sauté till brown. Add the ginger and stir. 
In a big bowl add everything else ( including the onion and garlic and ginger mixture ) and mix till the spices are fully incorporated in the minced chicken. 
Then place the chicken mixture on skewers in the shape of a kebab 
Once you’ve made all the kebabs put them in the fridge for 1 hour 
Then light up your batbeque and grill the kebabs.   
Serve with onions and a mint and coriander dip
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11:02:00

  
I absolutely love this chocolate ice cream recipe for its rich creaminess and its delectable bitter sweet taste. It’s definitely a crowd pleaser , and anyway, when can you ever go wrong with chocolate   

 
 The recipe is very simple and don’t worry if you don’t have an ice cream maker , even I didn’t ! All you need to do is follow the instructions given in this link of brown eyed baker’s blog  http://www.browneyedbaker.com/how-to-make-homemade-ice-cream-without-an-ice-cream-maker/
 This recipe is from the book the perfect scoop , but i have changed it a bit . 

INGREDIENTS

2 cups heavy cream 

1 cup full fat milk 

150 gms dark cooking chocolate ( chopped) 

5 tbs Dutch processed cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla essence 

A pinch of salt 

5 egg yolks 

1/2 cup sugar ( or 3/4 cup if you like it really sweet )

 METHOD

In a sauce pan heat one cup of cream and the cocoa powder together while continuously whisky whisking.  One it reaches a boil , turn down the heat to medium and let it simmer for 30 seconds 

Take this off the heat and add in the chocolate and mix while scraping the bottom 

Once combined , add in the other 1 cup of cream and combine 

Then shift this to a separate bowl and place a sieve over it . Scraping the pan as much as possible to get everything off 

Then in the same pan heat together , the milk ,sugar and salt .

In a seperate bowl whisk the egg yolks 

Once the mixture is heated properly , slowly add it to the yolks while constantly whisking them 

Then shift this mixture back to the pan and keep stirring constantly till the mixture coats the back of your spoon ( wooden spoon ) 

Then pass this mixture through the sieve and into the chocolate mixture you made earlier 

Add In The vanilla essence and stir 

Once combined place the bowl in an ice bath and stir till it cools 

Refrigerate for two hours and then put in your ice cream machine according to the instructions on it  

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03:11:00

This is one my of favorite recipes by Gordon Ramsey , he is simply amazing and makes cooking effortless with his recipes . I have just altered the recipe slightly in terms of the amount of ingredients

INGREDIENTS 

For the marinade 

500 gms boneless chicken breast (cut into cubes) 

2tsp chopped garlic 

2tsp chopped ginger 

2-3 tsp chopped red chillies 

Juice of 2 lemons 

1 tsp coriander powder 

1tsp roasted cumin powder 

1+1/2 cup yoghurt 

1/2tsp salt 

1/2tsp turmeric 

For the sauce 

2tsp olive oil 

2tsp tomato paste 

1/2tsp cayenne pepper 

2 onions (chopped) 

1tsp chopped garlic

1tsp chopped ginger 

1tsp garam masala 

1tsp ground coriander 

2tbsp butter 

Hand full of chopped coriander ( for garnishing ) 

METHOD 

1. in a bowl combine all the ingredients for the marinade ,add the chicken and then refrigerate for minimum 2 hours 
2. After the chicken has been sitting for two hours heat olive in a pan and add the onions 
3. Cook till brown 
4. Add the rest of the spices, garlic and ginger 
5. Cook till combined 
6. Then add the tomato paste and butter 
7. Once combined add the chicken and the left over marinade and cook for 8-10 mins on high heat .

02:52:00

This cheesecake is decadent and full of flavor. It makes for a perfect dessert that can be eaten at anytime and anywhere. 

INGREDIENTS 
For the base : 
15-20 Oreo cookies
1/4 cup melted butter 
For the cake : 
2 cups cream cheese (room temperature )
2 tsp instant coffee powder 
1/2 cup cream 
150 gms dark chocolate (or milk chocolate ) 
1 tsp vanilla essence 
1/4 cup + 2tbsp castor sugar



METHOD 

• Put Oreos in the food processor and blend till you have a powder 
• Mix in the butter and layer your cake pan with this mixture
• Refrigerate for half an hour 
• Heat cream in a pan till it’s just warm
• Pour over chocolate (chopped and placed in a bowl ) and let it sit for a minute 
• Then mix and set aside to cool 
• Beat the cream cheese and sugar together till fluffy
• Stir the coffee powder in 3 tsps of hot boiling water and set aside to cool 
• Once cooled, fold in the coffee mix , vanilla essence and the chocolate ganache
• Pour this mixture over your Oreo base and chill for at least 4 hours  

                                          

02:49:00

         This pasta is simply delicious and has a delightful kick of spice . It’s also super easy to make. You may just simply leave out the chicken if you wish

Ingredients:

(Serves 3-4)

250 gms. Penne pasta

3 tbsp Oil

 4 onions(chopped)

4 Tomatoes(boiled and peeled)

2 tbsp olives

4 tbsp corn kernels

1/4 cup mozarella cheese(grated)

4 garlic cloves

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp oregano

2-3 tsp nando’s Piri Piri sauce (depending upon how hot you like it ) 

250 gms chicken breast (cut into cubes) 

 DIRECTIONS:

1: Boil pasta as per instructions on the packet 

2: Heat oil in a skillet.

3: Add onions and garlic(chopped).

4: Cook it till it is translucent. In a separate pan cook chicken with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper and set aside once it turns white.  

5: Add pureed tomatoes,redchilli , Piri Piri sauce , black pepper and chicken. 

6: Add oregano and cook till it leaves oil.

7: Add boiled and drained pasta,olives and corn.

8: Toss it a little and serve it with mozerella , chilli flakes and oregano on top. 

02:39:00