Basil chicken

Chicken Breast half                   4
Basil dried   (Thulasi leaves)      1.1/2 tsp
Red chili                                     3/4 tsp
garlic                                           3 cloves
Tomato paste                               2 tbsp
Soy sauce                                     1 tsp

Wash the chicken and set it aside to drain all the excess water
Slice garlic in to thin slices.
Mix all ingredients together. Marinade the chicken for 2 hours. arrange it on a backing dish. Make sure all the pieces just fit in the pan. The pan should not be too large you need the chicken to just fit in  so that the chicken will be moist and cooks in its juices. sprinkle some flour to have extra crispness. Half way through cooking pour over the juices. It should take about 1/2 hr. Enjoy

Christmas cake

Glazed mixed fruit                 1 cup  + or -
cashew nuts                             1/4 cu
Rum                                       1/2 cup

Sugar                             1/4 cup
Water                            1/4 cup

Sugar                                            2 cup
Butter                                             454 g (1 lb)
Eggs                                               9
Nutmeg                                          1/4 tsp
Vanilla essence                         1 tsp
Self rising cake and pastry flour              4 cup

If you are using all purpose flour instead of cake and pastry flour:

 All purpose flour(Maida) lb

 Baking soda 1 tsp

 Baking powder 1 tsp)

 (Swift all these ingredients together)

Soak your fruit and nuts in the Rum about a month in advance. ( you can also make this cake without the rum) 

Caramelize 1/4 cup sugar . ( Heat the sugar in heavy bottom pan  over medium heat. It should starts liquefy the edges first. once the sugar starts to turn brown stir occasionally towards the center to prevent burning. pay attention not to burn it. When sugar  turns dark brown. turn the stove off and remove the pan. when the sugar stops bubbling add water and turn the heat back on for about 2 min. let it cool down.

Mix cake and pastry flour and nutmeg.Set it aside. 
 Separate egg yolk and white in to 2 different bowls.
Cream butter and sugar  with an electric mixer until fluffy Beat in egg yolk two at a time. 
Add flour slowly fold with a spoon Do not mix too much once the flour is in.Stir in soaked candid fruits. 
whip the egg whites until thick forms. It is best to start with low speed then move up to high when whipping egg whites. Fold the form in to the cake mix 
add caramelized sugar and vanilla If the cake mix is not loose enough, add enough milk.
 Preheat the oven to 350 c. Pour the batter in to a well-oiled baking pan bake until done about 35-40 minute.Do not open the oven at least until after 30 min.( turn the light on and look through the glass door) insert a tooth pick to the center to see if the cake is done.

Shoyu chicken

Chicken thigh                   8-9 pieces
Soy sauce                         1/4 cup
Ginger chopped                1 tsp
Onion                                1 medium
Black pepper                     1 tbsp
Garlic                                  3 cloves
Oregano                               1 tsp
Cayenne pepper                     1/2 tsp
Salt                                         pinch

Chop the onion, garlic  and ginger real fine.
Mix rest of the ingredients. Since soy sauce has salt i did not add extra salt
Remove the skin and clean the chicken.
Marinade the chicken with all the ingredients. leave it in the fridge for about 1 hr. the more time you leave it in the fridge the better. In a large frying pan arrange the chicken pieces and all of the marinade. I did not add any water since there will be juices coming out of the chicken. add water if your chicken takes longer to cook.once the liquid from the chicken comes out cover with a lid and cook until chicken is soft and moist. If the chicken has a lot of water coming out open the the lid and cook until the water evaporates. Enjoy with any types of rice buttered rice , rice pilaf, lemon rice or tomato rice.