Pepper and Meat Lasagna

I love to cook, eat and enjoy Italian Food. Its my second favorite cuisine after Indian. And when it comes to Lasagna, just the thought of it is drool worthy. So, today sharing a non-vegetarian recipe. Cook and Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 tbsp Olive oil.
1 lb ground meat (of your choice).
1/2 medium onion, diced.
1/2 large bell pepper (green, red, and yellow), seeds and veins removed, diced.
2 cloves garlic, minced.
1 can (28-ounce) tomato sauce.
1/2 can (3 oz) tomato paste.
1 can (14-ounce) crushed tomatoes.
2 tsp dried oregano.
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning.
Pinch of garlic powder and/or garlic salt (optional)
1 tbsp red wine vinegar.
Salt and Sugar to taste.
1/2 lb dry lasagna noodles (requires 9 lasagna noodles -unbroken)
Freshly grated Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Method:

Put a large pot of salted water on the stove-top on high heat. While it is coming up to boil,prepare the sauce.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add the ground meat (I have used lamb) and cook it until lightly browned and cooked through.

Add the diced bell pepper and onions to another skillet.Brown for a few minutes on medium high heat.

Now add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.

Then add the browned meat back to the skillet,lower the heat to low and continue to cook for 5 more minutes stirring frequently.

Transfer meat, bell peppers and onions to a medium sized pot. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes. Add oregano, parsley, Italian seasoning, adjust amounts to taste. Add a pinch of garlic powder and/or a pinch of garlic salt, to taste. 

Add in a splash of red wine vinegar. Put sugar and salt to taste, and note: that you will later be adding Parmesan, which is salty.(Note: Keep tasting at each level)

Bring the sauce to a simmer and lower the heat to low to maintain a low simmer. Cook for 15-45 minutes to thicken and then remove from heat.

Now in the boiling water add the dry lasagna noodles and cook then as per package directions (al dente).When ready, drain in a colander and rinse with cool water, gently separating any noodles that may be sticking together.

Spread a little olive oil on a large rimmed baking sheet, and lay out the cooked noodles on this sheet, turning them over so that they get coated with a little of the olive oil. This will prevent them from sticking together.

In a rectangular casserole or lasagna dish, ladle one cup of sauce and spread it along the bottom of the pan. Apply one layer noodles 3 length wise/ breath wise as per the pan size.Ladle a third of the remaining sauce over the noodles. Apply a layer of the mozzarella on top of lasagna sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese in thin even layer on top of mozzarella cheese.

Apply second layer of noodles, top it with half of the remaining sauce. Add half of the remaining Mozzarella, and another thin sprinkling of Parmesan.

Finish with another layer of noodles. Spread the remaining sauce over the top layer of noodles and sprinkle with the remaining Mozzarella cheese.(Note: In total 3 layers of noodle sheets).

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil (not touching noodles or sauce). Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

May be reheated in conventional oven or microwave.

Its Super tasty and if you haven't tried it yet,then you definitely must!

Mum's birthday Part 1:Stuffed Bell Pepper

I personally, love Saturdays as you know the next day is a Sunday and no work and all play but on Sundays there is a boredom atmosphere.Generally,next day you got to go to work and a sad feeling takes over..ha! ha! ha! (too dramatic) But we can't help it we have to get our asses back at work every Monday,so I really don't like Sundays...Saturdays are far better nah...

You can relax with a book or watch films or even party out with friends,weekends are always super good.

But today is special not because its just a random Saturday,instead we celebrated my mother's belated birthday.I know! I know! why 'belated' because my grandmother passed away and for a year we are not to celebrate any occasion..so now you know.

Enough talking,here is the recipe... 

Ingredients:

Bell Pepper 4 pcs. 
Potato,boiled and mashed 1 medium
Paneer (cottage cheese),grated 100 gm
Cashew nuts,coarsely ground 5-6 pcs
Raisins 8-9 pcs
Dry mango powder (amchoor) 1 tsp.
Red chili powder 1 tsp
Cumin powder 1 tsp
Garam masala powder 1 tsp
Fresh coriander leaves,finely chopped a few sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil 1 tbsp
Onion ,chopped 1 medium
Ginger,chopped 1 inch piece
Green chilies,chopped 2
Cheese 1/2 cup.

Method:

Slice off thinly from the tops of the peppers and remove seeds to make them hollow. 

Similarly slice off thinly from the bottom so that it stand steady when placed on a baking tray.

Mix well potato, paneer, cashew nuts, raisins, amchoor, red chili powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder, coriander leaves and salt.Keep aside.

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.

Heat oil in a pan and add onion.Cook till translucent and add ginger and green chilies.

Mix in potato mixture and continue to cook for two minutes.

Divide this mixture evenly into four portions and stuff into the prepared shells.

Sprinkle cheese and place on baking tray.

Bake at 225 degrees for fifteen minutes.

Serve immediately.

For a change,mom enjoyed a free day and my brother and I got the kitchen to ourselves...Cooking for her.Enjoy!

Strawberry Cookies

Strawberry a fruit so luscious and tasty and it simply melts in your mouth.I love them,but unfortunately,the place I stay at,not many good variety is available,and if there is,they aren't sweet enough.So,I stick to canned or whole crush.

My sister came over last Sunday and on that very evening I baked these cookies,then we both relished it.But I had 2-3 left which I noticed has softened the next day.The strawberry had released its juices,so I would suggest stick to a small batch and eat them on the very day!

Lets go over the Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter,softened.
1/2 cup brown sugar.
1/4 cup white sugar.
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence.
1 medium-sized egg.
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour.
1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
4 whole strawberries from the can or fresh slices of strawberries.

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 C.

Using an electric mixer,beat the butter,brown sugar,white sugar and vanilla essence until smooth and combined.

Add the egg,and beat well.

Now add the flour,baking soda and salt,and beat on a low speed until just incorporated.

Drop tablespoons of the dough onto the baking trays, allowing room for spreading.

Then with a spoon just add the strawberry each at the center.

Bake for 10-12 minutes,until the cookies are deeply golden.

Makes 24 cookies.

Brownies with Vanilla Ice-cream and Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients:

-for Brownies.

100 gm flour.
100 gm fine sugar.
100 gm butter.
70 gm dark cooking chocolate.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
2 medium sized eggs.
50 gm walnuts,chopped.
3-4 drops of vanilla essence.

-for Chocolate Sauce.

300 gm cooking chocolate.
1 cup cream.
few drops of vanilla essence.

Method:

-for Brownies.

Seive flour and baking powder.

Melt the chocolate and butter.

Cream the sugar in the chocolate and butter mixture,add in beaten eggs and vanilla essence and pinch of salt.

Fold the flour in the mixture,a little at a time and then add the walnuts.

Pour the mixture in a square glass dish and bake at preheated oven at 175 C.

Do not remove immediately.Let it stand for 2 mins and then cut into small square pieces.

Tip: Sprinkle some rum and sugar syrup over the cake to keep it moist.


-for Chocolate Sauce.

Break chocolate into pieces and heat then over a double boiler,stir it well.

Then add in the cream,stirring to mix everything well.

Lastly add the vanilla essence.

Serve the Brownies over a slab of vanilla ice-cream and pour some warm chocolate sauce over.

Its droollicious..!! (*winks*)

Caramel Custard.

"Custard:A detestable substance produced by a malevolent conspiracy of the hen, the cow, and the cook."~Ambrose Bierce.
It is said maybe,not meaning about the taste,maybe he meant because it has nothing (ingredients) in it actually.It does not require any creativity and the simplest form of dessert that you can make is the Caramel Custard or Creme Brulee,with minimal ingredients,which is generally available on regular basis,all the time at every house and takes just some minutes to cook.Its fast and the most hassle free dessert that you can serve to your guests,easily.

Now let me tell you the difference between Creme Brulee and Caramel Custard,they both are all the way similar except in brulee,cream is used and in custard,milk.

Here's the recipe for Caramel Custard.

Ingredients:

-for Caramel

2-3 tablespoon white sugar.
Little water.

-for Custard

3 medium sized eggs.
50 gm white sugar.
few drops of vanilla essence.
500 ml milk.

Method:

To caramelize the sugar,in a pan add the sugar and little water just so that the sugar is wet.You can even do it without adding water,but if you are not professional enough you might just burn the sugar.I did add in the water and slowly stir it in medium flame.

You'll notice the sugar turn into light brown color,take it off the heat and pour it in an aluminium pan and just by turning around let it spread.Do not use spatula.

Now in another bowl break the eggs and add the sugar,whisk it well and add few drops of vanilla essence.

Now strain the mixture so that the egg white strands are removed.

Add in milk and give a slow stir.

Pour the fluid slowly in the pan.

Now you can put it in a double boiler or even oven at 325 F for 45 mins.

If you do not have oven,you can pour water in a big pan and place in the aluminium pan over.The water must be half filled and do not heat it vigorously just simmer it.

You'll notice the top layer thicken and that's when you'll know its cooked.Bring it out,and lightly scrape the edges with a spoon so that it comes off easily.

Take a plate and turning it upside down place it over the pan,then quickly turn over.

Your Caramel Custard is set and ready to be served,but I would suggest refrigeration for and hour before serving.

Simple as that! 

Spice Cookie!

My sweetheart (Mother) suddenly,popped a question this evening,"You like Cookies or Cake more?" and then,I saw that smirk on her face and I very well,understood what she had actually meant!

So I simply showed her a thumbs up and replied "Cake more!",heading to the kitchen.But,unfortunately I dint have any fruit nor crush or syrup,literally nothing special to bake a tasty cookie.

But did I not mention,when you have nothing,you have everything?And then somewhat magically,the jar full of cinnamon sticks stood out in the kitchen rack as if indicating 'USE ME! USE ME!' and I instantly got the idea 'why not use spices?'.

So here is the recipe for all of you.

Ingredients:

3 cup all purpose flour.
1 cup unsalted butter,softened.

1/2 cup brown sugar.

1/2 cup granulated sugar.

2 medium sized eggs.

2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

1 teaspoon baking soda.

2 teaspoon hot water.

1/2 teaspoon salt.

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

1 teaspoon ground ginger.

3/4 teaspoon ground clove.

A pinch of ground green cardamom.

Method:

Preheat oven to 175 C.

Use hand or electric mixer to cream together butter,granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy.

Beat in eggs one at a time.

Then add vanilla extract.

Dissolve baking soda in the hot water and add it to batter.

In another bowl,whisk flour,salt and spices together.

Add the dry mixture to the wet and beat at a low speed for 30 seconds.

Drop a big spoonful on an ungreased pan or on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 11-13 minutes until the edges are brown.

Cool for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring them into jar.

You might notice that they are not evenly shaped,but does it matter if it tastes better?

*smiles*

Cinnamon Raisin Muffin!

Baking is really 'something'! You need to keep in mind about the measurement,temperature or if you've put in too much baking soda or powder or maybe too lumpy cookie dough,etc and etc.That's a lot! I know.

I'm no expert baker,sometimes I've done countless mistakes and its obvious when it comes to baking.But I believe in simplicity.The more the complex a recipe is,the more you tend to ruin it.So,it better be simple than to land up in your garbage bin,right?

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." ~John Gunther.And when its muffin,then its really a good one.
This is an easy recipe,perfect for the novice bakers.Try it and I know you'll like love it.

Lets go over the Ingredients:

1 cup (that's about  150 gm) all purpose flour.
1/3 cup (that's about 40 gm) whole wheat flour.
1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
1 tablespoon grounded cinnamon.
1/2 cup raisins.
2 teaspoon of baking powder.
1 medium-sized egg.
3 tablespoon of melted butter.
1 teaspoon honey.
1/2 cup milk.
A pinch of salt.

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 F/180 C.

In a large bowl mix in all the dry ingredients (flour,sugar,cinnamon,raisins,baking powder,salt).Combine well and set aside.

In another bowl,mix in the wet ingredients (egg,butter,honey and milk) and whisk lightly,mixing well.

Now,fold the dry mixture into the wet,incorporating all the ingredients well.The batter will be think not runny.

Arrange muffin tray or silicon molds and pour in the batter,filling 3/4 level.

Tap a little so that no air bubbles remain in and then sprinkle a little brown sugar on top of each.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Cool and Serve.

Tip: The best way to know if you are doing right is to taste at every level.