Rosemary Chicken drumsticks

Arrange chicken drumsticks in a pan.
Sprinkle salt garlic powder chilli powder and rosemary. Top with sliced onion.
Pre heat the oven to 400c. 
Bake for about 25 minutes. 
Pour the chicken juices over to the chicken and bake for another 5 minutes.I've also added peeled baby potatoes with the chicken

Home made pizza

I have never met a person who doesn't like pizza, who didn't have the cravings for pizza.. Now that was me last week.. I didn't want store brought pizzas since it is not up to my standard these days. I wanted to make one just the way I like.
Came home talked to Noel( my daughter). She is all for it. So here it comes

Pizza Dough

All purpose flour 2 1/4 cup
Active dry yeast 1 tsp
Sugar 2 1/2 tsp
Salt 1/2 tsp
Vegetable oil 2 tbsp
Warm water 1 cup
In a small bowl combine flour salt sugar yeast. stir well to combine. Add vegetable oil and water to the mixture. Make a soft dough. Cover and keep it in a warm place to rise until it doubled in volume.It takes about 40 minutes. (I used my oven)
Take the dough out and spread it on to the pizza pan. use your hands to spread. put it back in to the oven to rise again for about 10 15 minutes.
While the dough is rising, prepare your favourite toppings.

For Toppings

Pizza sauce/ tomato sauce enough to cover the pizza
Mozzarella cheese 1 ball
Pepper flakes to sprinkle
Bacon
Peperoni
Red Onion sliced
Jalapeño pepper
Olives circles

chop the bacon and fry to a golden brown. Grate mozzarella cheese.
Take the pizza dough out spread the tomato sauce with a spoon. Spread 1/4 of grated cheese now add all your favourite toppings. Top with the rest of the cheese. Pre heat your oven to 450 . Bake for about 20 minutes.

I would add some oregano and basil and garlic if using plain tomato sauce

Shepherds pie

Ground beef 1 kg
Onion chopped 1
Ketchup 2 tbsp
Black pepper 2 tsp
Chili pepper (optional) 1 tsp
Worcestershire sauce (optional) 1 tsp
Garlic 3 clove
All purpose flour( maida) 2-3 tbsp

In a large pot brown ground beef with onion. add rest of the ingredients ingredients and cook for another 2 minutes. add salt to taste. Be sure to break the lumps while you are cooking

Mixed vegetable diced 2 cup
Mashed potato 4-5 cups
I used Diced carrots corn, beans and peas for mixed vegetables.
Add the mixed vegetable to the meat mixture and cook until vegetables are tender.
In a rectangular pan, layer the meat mixture. Top it up with mashed potato sprinkle some paprika or chili powder to give some color. I've also doted with some butter. Preheat the oven under 375 c. cook the pie for about 1/2 hr or until light golden brown.

Carrot muffins

Whole wheat flour 2 cup
Brown sugar 3/4cup
Baking soda 1tsp
Baking powder 1tsp
Greated carrots 2 cup
Egg 2
Oil 3/4 cup
Water enough to make the batter

Swift together flour baking sada and baking powder. Add carrots brown sugar egg, oil and mix well. Add enough watr to make a thick batter.
Preheat the oven to 350. Pour batter in to muffin pan about 3/4 full. Bake for about 40 minutes

Vegetable pulo

Basmati rice         2 cup

Water                   4 cup

Mixed vegetable  2 cup

Cardamom           4

Star anise             1

Clove                   5

Bay leaves           2

Butter                  2-3 Tbsp

Ginger                 1 small piece

Garlic                  3 cloves

Wash and soak the rice for about 15 minutes.
In a heavy bottom pan Heat butter  add the whole spices and fry.
Add chopped ginger garlic and  sliced onion  fry well.
Add the drained rice and fry for about 2-3 minutes.  Add 2 cups of mixed vegetables. ( carrots, peas Green beans, Corn,potatoes etc. I did not use peas and potatoes with this pulao.
Add 4 cups of water and let it boil. Once it starts boiling add a tsp lemon juice and salt and mix well. cover the pot with a lid and cook under low heat. until rice reaches the desired consistency. Or until the water is absorbed. leave it covered for another 5 minutes. Use a fork to fluff the rice .
Enjoy with a Raita 

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.