that what makes me happy

For past some time I have been trying some culinary experiments - and experiencing the joy of whipping up something out of something. I never thought i'm the kind who would enjoy it.. but surprisingly I find it soothing, relaxing and fun.


I recently made Banana Cake - and well, i really didn't expect me to be able to make it that good the first time round. The aroma was so thick with banana flavour that it made me fall in love with it. My eldest sister - a banana lover herself - fell for it and so did my other sis and mom. As I baked the cake it took the shape of a shiny dark brown dessert that tasted much much much better than the banana muffins I have had before. I am going to write down the recipe here on the blog one of these days. A big thanks to nisha my friend for hailing from Kerala (ha) and for telling me how to make it. :D

So well, I think i am finally taking the cooking thing seriously. More so cz it makes me happy. The going-shopping that precedes the cooking and the cutting-chopping-dicing and the aroma and the process, the wait as the dish cooks and then the anticipation whether it's good enough.

So lets me do some loud thinking here. What have i made till date:..i mean some serious cooking/bakingwise:

1.  Chilly Potato

2.  Fried Rice

3.  Manchurian

4.  Spring Rolls

5.  Subway type - Sub (but that was more arrangement than cooking)

6.  Paneer Kulcha

7.  Veg. Biryani/ Pulao

8.  Lachcha Parantha

9.  Malai Kofta

10. Paneer Tikka

11. Corn Kebabs

12. Chocolate Cake

13. Banana Cake

14. Mushroom-Corn Farmhouse Pizza

15. Nacho Chat

16. Macaroni (dont know if that counts)

17. Banana Shake (with iceceam and nuts)

:)) makes me happy this list.

I usually get the ideas from two friends of mine who are simply the best cooks ever.. but barring that these dishes i've often tried outside and made a mental note to try at home - much like a challenge. Like I did a home made 'sub', or farmhouse pizza or banana cake after eating banana muffin, or spring rolls or nacho chat etc. Trying to make these things at home is fun. I am sure I am not a very good cook yet. I just enjoy it for now. 

And let me add this: i'm not too big for traditional indian or mughlai dishes Let me be honest the malai kofta i made was not that great cz i misread a part of the recipe. But  try i did.

And now a list of what's on my mind. I have something for healthy cooking. I am not a big fan of fried, slimy, oily dishes and i try to avoid maida (cornflour).. so the challenge is to make the dish healthy (using wheat or samolina (suji) instead of maida and using less oil without compromising on the taste)

So now my wish list for the summer:

1. Malai Kofta

2. Coffee Cake ( thats a friend's recipe and includes..molten chocolate lava :))))

3. Pasta - the authentic pasta - the kind I ordered at big chill and loved

4. Mushroom Pasta (i recently bought a bag of fusilli pasta)

5. Kathi Roll
6. Apple Pie

7. Chocolate-Banana Shake

I think that's enough for days to come. gee, that made me happy.

:D