Chocolate Brownies (a foolproof recipe)!

A delicate crisp crust enveloping an intensely chocolatey, wonderfully rich and dense brownie that is just as fudgy and moist.

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Brownie has a special place in my heart!

We had cats for most of my childhood. My grandmother was fond of cats so she always had at least one in the house. However, there was a period when we did not have any. Then, one day we heard meowing coming from our backyard and to our surprise, we found two kittens :-)! I named them Snowy, Browny since one was white, and the other was brown. I was very attached to Browny. I would play with him every day after school, feed him and pamper him. We shared this unknown bond of love. If I were not at home even for a day, he would stand in front of my door and meow. After few years on one day, Browny went missing and we never found him.

I was first introduced to brownies here in the US. Since it had the same name, I developed a special attachment to it. Every time I bake brownies, I take special care and interest in making’em. This post is a dedication to my lil cat Browny.

Brownies come in variety of textures. They are thick n fudgy while others are light and cake like. Brownies I make usually fall in between. They have a delicate, crisp crust enveloping a wonderfully rich, dense but moist brownie that is just fudgy enough. Symphony of chocolate, cocoa and more chocolate creates an intense chocolate experience that the chocolate lovers are sure to cherish. This amazingly rich brownie takes perfection with a deep chocolate flavor and heavenly taste that melts in your mouth.

When something is all about chocolate, it can only taste divine. This is just pure chocolate magic!

Chocolate Brownie

Makes - 10-12 Servings

Flour	- 3/4th cup
Semi-sweet Chocolate	- 2 cups
Cocoa Powder	- 2 Tbsps
Butter	- 5 tbsps
Eggs	- 3
Sugar	- 1 1/2 cups
Brown Sugar	- 1/2 cup
Vanilla Extract	- 1 tsp
Instant Coffee powder	- 1 tsp
Baking Powder	- 1 tsp
Salt	- just a pinch

Pre-heat oven to 350 degree F. Line 8 x 8 pan with baking paper/parchment paper and butter the paper.

Lining the pan with baking paper makes it easy to remove brownies from the pan. You can remove them right out by lifting the paper.

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and set aside.

In a bowl, melt butter and chocolate.

You can substitute milk chocolate for semi-sweet chocolate but reduce the quantity of sugar, as milk chocolate is sweeter.

You can melt them by placing the bowl over a pot of simmering water, stirring until its melted completely. On the other hand, you can use a microwave to melt it. Let it cool for a few minutes.

While it cools, stir together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and coffee powder.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Stir until combined.

Add the flour mixture little by little and whisk to incorporate completely.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool on a rack.Cut brownies and serve!

Simple Noodles

Quick and easy noodles with mild flavors that taste pleasing to the palette. A one-dish comfort food that is healthy, balanced and nutritious.

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I am a noodle person! I love noodles all the way.

Of course, my all time favorite is Maggi noodles! However, I do have a homemade favorite, mom’s noodles. Gosh, how much I love it.

Colorful vegetables stir fried on high flame and tossed with noodles and sauce. A one-dish meal with vegetables, starch, add in some tofu or chicken for protein, all in one bowl makes it a healthy, balanced and nutritious dish.

This is not a rich, sophisticated dish containing bold flavors. It is more towards light, simple, mild flavors and a soothing taste. It is such an unassuming dish but so pleasing to the palette. It will definitely catch you by surprise – something made with simple ingredients and plain flavors can taste so good.

Simple Noodles

Makes - 2 servings

Egg noodles/Soba noodles	– 1 pkt	Soy sauce	- 2 tbsp
Onion	- 1 chopped	Vinegar	- 2 tbsp
Capsicum	- 1/2 cup chopped	Sriracha/Chilli sauce	- 1 tbsp
Cabbage	- 1 cup chopped	Brown sugar	- 1 tsp
Carrot	- 1	Oil	- 3 tbsp
Green Beans	- 1/2 cup	Ajnimoto(Chinese salt)	- 1 tsp (Optional)
Ginger	- 1/2 tsp minced	Salt	- to taste

Boil noodles as per the instructions on the packet. Keep aside.

In a bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, sriracha sauce. Set aside.

Heat oil in a pan or wok, add minced ginger and stir till it flavors the oil.

Add the vegetables and stir-fry until they are tender and cooked but still crisp.

Add the cooked noodles to the pan and mix.

Add in the sauce, salt, and mix to coat the noodles and vegetables.

Stir on flame for 5 minutes to give the noodles some time to absorb the sauce.

Remove from stove and serve hot.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Looking for an easy,super fast and yummy starter? Cheesy garlic bread is crispy with garlicky buttery flavor and bubbly with melted cheese.

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It's holiday season and we were hosting a dinner party for our friends. I put together a fool proof menu but was undecided on the last appetizer. Keeping in mind the preping ,cutting , frying and cooking I already had in line I safely settled for the cheesy garlic bread. They are extremely easy, super fast to make and of course, very yummy!

I dabbed some butter on the french baguette, dusted a little garlic powder, sprinkled parmesan cheese and seasoning ,then generously topped with mozzarella cheese and baked'em ! Out of the oven came these bad boys crispy and bubbly with melted cheese.Each bite had just the right amount of crunch and cheesy, garlicky flavor.

These warm pieces of bread are very simple and unassuming but absolutely delicious. Garlicky, cheesy and buttery, this bread is off the charts in flavor and ease. As you bite into the bread piece, the hot cheese stretches into long strands and the garlic flavor really comes through. These are best when served warm with marinara sauce.

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Makes - 10 - 12 Servings

French Baguette	- 1
Butter	- 4 tbsps
Parmesan Cheese	- 1 cup
Mozzarella Cheese	- 2 cups
Garlic Powder	- 2 tbsps
Italian Seasoning	- 2 tbsps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice bread in half lengthwise and place the two halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet.

Spread butter on cut surfaces.

Sprinkle garlic powder, seasoning and Parmesan Cheese.

Top with Mozzarella cheese and some more Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 10- 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cut the bread into 1 to 2-inch pieces, and serve warm with marinara sauce.

Creamy Spinach

A lusciously rich, softly spiced and mildly sweet dish. It is so creamy that it coats the palette leaving a taste that will linger around

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Many of us have this habit. We try to mimic a dish we had in a restaurant or at a party, right?

I love an Indo-Chinese restaurant and often visit it when I am in the neighborhood. I think I have pretty much tried everything on the menu! One item I specifically remember is ‘Creamy Spinach Masala’. I loved it so much that I tried to make it at home. As much as it is fun, it is also challenging to reconstruct a dish just from the taste. I can’t say if I was even close but definitely the creamy spinach I prepared was a tongue-tickler!

A creamy blend of spinach, shallots, tomatoes and heavy cream, makes a rich and flavorful dish. This lusciously creamy dish has the earthy flavor of spinach and delicate sweetness of cream. It is softly spiced, mildly sweet, and so creamy that it coats the palette leaving a taste that will linger for a long time.

Creamy Spinach

Makes - 4 servings

Spinach	- 2 bunches	Garam Masala	- 2 tsps
Cream	- 3 cups	Pav Bhaji Masala	- 2 tsps
Green Peas	- 1/2 cup	Cloves	- 3
Onion	- 1 small	Cinnamon	- 1 inch stick
Tomato	- 1 medium	Salt	- to taste
Oil	- 2 tbsps

Heat oil in a pan. Add cloves, cinnamon, and fry for a minute.

Add chopped onions and cook until soft and translucent.

Add chopped tomato and cook until it becomes soft and mushy.

Now add chopped spinach, green peas and mix.

Close the lid and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure it does not burn.

Spinach gives out water as it cooks. If there is not enough water, you can add some.

Now add salt, masalas, and mix and cook for few more minutes.

Pour in the cream and cook for 5 more minutes till all the flavors blend.

You can add some green coloring to give the dish a nice bright color.

Turn off the heat and serve hot with rice or rotis.