Art of cooking effortlessly and quickly : With a menu as example

Art of cooking effortlessly and quickly : Indian food

 Most  women panic when we have guests or potlucks . Lot of work and everything needs to be perfect. My mom was working mom and i have seen her work effortlessly and multitask and superfast. She didnt let me help her hence i might not have learnt much from her, but as i work in my kitchen now i realise that just by watching her work i have learnt how to be something like her, of course no one can be as perfect as her.

This Sunday we have planned to take some lunch to family's place and prepared some small menu. Its not much grand or too much but i thought of using this as example and typing in some tips about multitasking in kitchen to save time. 

 This blog post is pertaining mainly to one particular chosen menu. Soon i will type another blog post for general efficient cooking tips. 

This article includes 

  * Quick cooking tips.

  * Clean and mess free cooking tips.

  * Good planning 

  * Menu links of items prepared and shown in pix.  I have not yet typed all these recipes yet, but I plan to update this post as and when i type. 

  * How to get spouse help and some ready-made food help so that you are not stressed. 

 The menu I made is : 

 1. Pasta using whole wheat rotini and mix veggies. Recipe not typed yet. I will soon type recipe and include its link here. 

 2. Kheema . Recipe link is below : 

 http://recipesens.blogspot.com/2015/11/kheema-aloo-minced-lamb-with-potatoes.html

3. Simple matar pulao , as it has to go with kheema and chicken curry.  Matar pulao recipe will be updated soon too. 

 

4. Chicken curry . Well i make chicken curry in too many different styles. The recipe of this particular one i will update soon. Trust me this turned out awesome. It was my personal favorite among all dishes of the day. 

 

5. Pizza . I will tell you what i did to make my work easy. 

 6. Buffalo wings

 7. Ice cream for dessert. 

Here are some pointers :

1. PLANNING MENU

Plan ahead and decide menu. Dont chew more than you can bite. Think about the time you have and your energy and your capacity and plan. No one will complain ,everybody understands your situation.  

In my menu above , i decided one variety of rice, One thinner Gravy , one dry gravy , one type of dish for kids and grown ups as well, one item which is definitely kid's favorite  and one dessert. 

* For rice i chose matar pulao in simple style coz my chicken gravy and kheema were heavy. I had to match. 

* Chicken gravy is kind of easy for me to make and most people like little fluidy gravy with rice. 

* Dry item i chose lamb kheema as i had chicken already . Yes remember to keep variety. 

* I chose pasta coz its easy and quick to make if you use store brought sauce. (remember no stressing, no one will complain if you have one good tried and tested store sauce which are confidentwill work with your pasta type.) and to make it healthy its whole wheat pasta too. 

* The pizza we used is store brought frozen baked at home in 8 minutes while other dishes were being cooked. I had three pizzas which went in oven all at once . 

I chose Amy's organic magarettha pizza . (which is also halal and even vegetarians can use as it has no animal product in it) 

*Buffalo wings were brought from near by Afghan halal restaurant.  

* We took icre cream boxes right out of our freezer and thankfully our guests had not tasted it earlier and loved the flavour. we had black berry crumble ice cream. 

2.  TAKING HELP 

* Take your spouse help, dont take all burden on yourself. 

I asked my husband to do these chores. 

* Cutting all of onion that i used in all of dishes. I explained to him how thin and what style. 

*  He helped me measure and wash rice .

* He washed chicken and kheema and cut chicken in right size that i needed. 

* He got food from outside that we didnt cook at home. 

* He kept our kid out of kitchen and entertained to let me work easily. 

3. USE OF READY ITEMS 

* To save time and energy use what ever is store available.

* My pasta sauce is ready from store. 

 * I used frozen mix vegetables packet . 

* Use of frozen green  sweet peas packet. 

* Frozen pizza 

* Wings from restaurant. 

* Dessert from store.

4. MULTI TASK And work in order OF IMPORTANCE

*   First i got onion cut and i left all of onions to fry at once in big sauce pan. They were golden like i needed in 15 minutes.

* While onions were being ready i  put masala in chicken and in kheema. And i peeled and cut potatoes. 

* Then i divided them in two equal big and one small portion. 

*  I put one big portion of onion in cooker and added chicken and continued with chicken recipe which i will update soon. 

* In another cooker i added the other big portion of onion fried and kheema as per kheema recipe skipping step one of recipe and continued with cooking as in link below:

http://recipesens.blogspot.com/2015/11/kheema-aloo-minced-lamb-with-potatoes.html

* Next on third stove i used same saucepan i fried onion in  and added washed rice and made matar pulao. Recipe will be updated soon. 

* One fourth stove i started pasta. Yes all this was done in the order described above side by side. all at once.  Pasta recipe will be updated soon too. 

* In between doing all above four dishes at once i had left oven on preheating and put pizzas in there and removed after 8 minutes as per instruction. 

5. CLEAN-UP RIGHT THEN 

As and when you make some mess clean immediately. 

* Keep one light weight plastic plate to put peels. when u peel onion ,peel in this plate and peel all onions first before cutting. All peels in plate go in bin at once. 

* Next when u peel potatoes use same plates to put all potatoes peel in it. And to save time first peel all potatoes at once , then start cutting.  Do all peeling this way.

* Use this same plate to keep your spoons as you stir and leave them . Do not leave cooking or measuring spoons on countertop or stove or cooking vessels. 

* wipe any water droplets as soon as they fall . Keep mopping hand towels in reach as you cook. 

Follow these steps and you will not have huge mess waiting for you to clean when you are tired after cooking. 

Appetizer : Potato lollipop

APPETIZER  : POTATO LOLLIPOP

ALOO LOLLIPOP

Wow!! This snack became instant favorite of my family.  From my preschooler to grown up husband and dad. It was like pehli Nazar me pyar. It's very easy to make. Quick as well. And healthy if you count the nutrients in potatoes.  If you want more healthy,  use sweet potato  or yam ( rathaloo) instead of regular potatoes.  

INGREDIENTS 

Potatoes  : 2-3 large

Bread slices : 2 numbers.

Corn flour ( corn starch) : 2 tablespoon 

Salt 1 teaspoon 

Red chilli powder  1 teaspoon 

Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon 

Oil for frying

Tomato sauce and ice cream sticks for serving .

 METHOD 

1. Boil potatoes in water till soft . 

I washed and cut each potato in 4 big pieces and added in pressure cooker with 1/2 cup water ,pinch turmeric powder, salt and 1 tablespoon oil. This way potatoes  are ready in 5 minutes. Allow to cool and peel off skin. 

You can boil potatoes whichever way you prefer. 

2. Add corn flour, salt, red chilli powder  to boiled and peeled potatoes and mash well till potato lumps are fully gone and it's smooth paste.

2. Soak bread slices in water for 2 minutes, squeeze out water and mash the bread into paste.

I used healthy brown bread.

3. Now mix bread in potato paste bowl and knead again. Roll into oval balls like in picture.  

4. Heat oil in a pan. I used canola oil, you can use any vegetable oil or sunflower or safflower or whatever oil you usually use for frying.  Now add the potato balls gently on pan. Space them evenly.

5. Turn and flip gently and fry till golden brown. Usually two minutes on each side.

6. Pierce in sticks and serve hot. Yummmyyyyyy!!! Enjoy.

Grilled Salmon

GRILLED SALMON

Yummy grilled Salmon recipe is here for you. Again I made it easy and extremely quick way. I used my new kitchen gadget my counter top grill. It's small,toaster size,light weight and grill anything in 2 minutes. It's my most favorite kitchen hero now. I used frozen wild caught salmon from Walmart.  I would prefer skinless..but I do no how I picked with skin-on by mistake.  But it was good too. 

INGREDIENTS 

Salmon  : 1 lb 

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tablespoon 

Red chilli powder : 1 teaspoon 

Turmeric powder  :1/2 teaspoon 

Black Pepper powder : 1/2 teaspoon 

Cumin powder : 1/4 teaspoon 

Lemon juice : 1 teaspoon 

Salt : 1 teaspoon 

Corn meal: 1 tablespoon 

Corn flour ( corn starch) : 1 tablespoon 

METHOD 

1. Thaw fish and wash and cut into strips. This ensures easy grilling and even cooked salmon. It also makes  your seasoning well wrapped around fish.

2. Take all powders in bowl. Add lemon juice and mix. Now add the corn starch and corn meal and mix again. Do not add any water. Add ginger garlic paste and mix.

3. Now rub all of the masala generously over each piece. Marinate in refrigerator for minimum 2 hours.

4. Preheat your grill for 5 minutes. Arrange the salmon strips spaced evenly. Close lid and wait for exactly a minute (do not under estimate it's heating lol) . Flip the pieces and cover lid again for a minute. 

5. Remove  the grilled Salmon from grill in a plate. ( yes it is done in one minute on each side. Anytime longer will burn it). 

Clean the grill with tissue or clean cloth and repeat with other pieces. 

Super yummy masaledar, healthy, oil free ,high protein fish is ready. ENJOY!!!

Chicken Noodle Soup

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

A very healthy chicken noodle soup with goodness of vegetables.  I have  made it very easy and quick way. It turned out super yummy too.I m typing recipe using pressure cooker as well as saucepan .This is again my self created recipe. Dish is not new but way I made it is easy for moms with kids and busy women...and men who love to cook.

INGREDIENTS 

Chicken : 1/2 lb

Noodles :  3 cups  (I used whole wheat egg noodles. You can use your favorite )

Carrots : 2-3 numbers

Brocolli : 3/4 cup

Celery : 3 long sticks

 Seasoning : 

Salt 1/2 teaspoon 

Onion powder 1/4 teaspoon 

Garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon 

Parsely flakes : 1/4 teaspoon 

Basil dried :1/4 teaspoon 

Black pepper powder  1/2 teaspoon 

You can add more or less according to your taste.

METHOD USING PRESSURE COOKER 

1. Add chicken cut in tiny pieces (boneless or with bone) and chopped carrots and celery and salt and 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 5 minutes after pressure builds.

2. Let pressure out and now add 2 cups more water and bring to boil without lid on.

3.  Add the egg noodles and cook till just right done. 

The noodles I used took 8 minutes as per packet instructions.  You can check packet instructions  and cook till your are just right. Do not over cook or make them mushy. 

4. Now add brocolli florets and seasoning powders and gently mix and turn off the flame.

Cover cooker lid for 5 minutes to let brocolli soften just right but not too soft. 

Yummy hot soup is ready. Drizzle with olive oil and serve. Enjoy on cold winter evenings. 

METHOD USING SAUCEPAN 

1. Add small  chicken cubes and carrots and celery and salt  and 3 cups of water in large saucepan and boil for 20-30 minutes till chicken is throughly cooked. 

2. Add 3 cups water again and bring to boil. Now add noodles and cook till done.

3. Add brocolli florets and seasoning powders and gently mix .

4. Turn off flame and cover lid and let it sit for 5 minutes. 

5. Add about 2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in pan and mix gently .

6. Serve hot.

Breakfast Eggs And Veggies Healthy Savory Cake

Breakfast Eggs And Veggies Healthy Savory Cake

INGREDIENTS 

6 eggs

1 green bell pepper 

Raisins 1/4 cup

1 cup frozen spinach 

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour 

1/4 teaspoon Baking soda 

1 / 4 teaspoon Baking powder 

1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese 

All these seasoning powders about 1/8 teaspoon or to your taste

Salt

Black pepper

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Parsely flakes

METHOD 

1. Take eggs in mixing bowl and beat well

2. Add raisins (munakka) and green bell pepper  (Shimla mirch) finely chopped. Beat well

3. Add thawed frozen spinach (palak) or fresh spinach fine chopped. Mix .

4. Add flour and seasoning powders and baking soda and baking powder and mix well.

5. Pour batter in greased baking pan and bake for 25  minutes in preheated oven at 350 degrees F.  

6. Remove from oven and sprinkle grated cheese. Let it rest till cheese melts on its own and serve hot. 

Super yummy. I served with my favorite Greek yogurt with chocolate chips.

Zucchini Raisin Muffin

Zucchini Raisin Muffins

INGREDIENTS 

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon Baking soda

1/4 teaspoon Baking powder 

1 large egg

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/4 cup salted butter (melted)

1 cup grated zucchini 

1/4 cup raisins

METHOD 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line muffin pan with muffin liner. 

I made double quantity  hence greased one cake pan with oil. 

2. Mix flour,nutmeg,baking soda  and baking powder  in mixing bowl. 

3. Beat egg,sugar,butter together and fold in grated zucchini and raisins until evenly mixed. Stir in flour mix and beat again to make batter.

4. Fill in muffin cups and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.  

Enjoy!!!!!

Brocolli and vegetables healthy Rice

Serves 5

INGREDIENTS 

Basmati Rice : 1 1/2 cup 

( I use Basmati for daily cooking, you can use any rice you use)

Fresh brocolli : 1 cup cut florets

Mix veggies ( corn,carrot,sweet peas ,green beans fine chopped ) : 1/2 cup 

I used frozen mix vegetables packet. 

Canola oil (or vegetable oil  or sunflower oil whatever u use for cooking) : 1/2 tablespoon 

Water : 3-4 cups 

Salt : 1/4 teaspoon 

METHOD 

1. Take rice in sauce pan. Wash rice thrice  and fill with 2 1/2 to 3 cups water . Leave on shelf for 15 minutes.  

2. Add washed mix vegetables and 1/4 teaspoon salt and oil to rice and cook on medium flame till rice is 80% done. 

3. Now poke brocolli florets on top of rice like planting tree (lol) and if u want it more soft add some more hot water from top. I like rice very non sticky and perfect.  Don't like soft rice. 

Cover lid and cook on lowest flame for 10 minutes.  

You have nutritious rice ready in minutes. 

Shrimps in gravy

This is very quick and easy recipe for cooking shrimps in gravy. Everyone's favorite in my family. Goes well with ghee rice or Zeera rice. 

INGREDIENTS 

Shrimps : 1 lb

(I used cooked and frozen tail off small size packet from Walmart )

Onion : 1 medium chopped 

Tomatoes  : 1 medium  chopped 

Coconut milk : 1/2 cup 

Ginger garlic paste : 1 teaspoon 

Turmeric powder 1 / 4 teaspoon

Red Chilli powder : 1 / 2 teaspoon 

Oil 1  tablespoon 

Method 

1.   In a sauce pan Fry onions in oil for 3 minutes  till slightly soft. 

2. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes. 

3. Add tomato and fry for two minutes.

4. Add all powders and fry 2 minutes  . Mix.

5. Now add thawed shrimps and coconut milk and bring to boil. 

Reduce heat ND simmer for 10 minutes.  

All done.  Enjoy!!

Mutton curry in coconut milk : Gosht ka Salan

This ghost ka salan (meat curry) is extremelyeasy and quick to make. Simple and super tasty . Few ingredients and flavorful. 

INGREDIENTS 

Mutton : 2 lbs

Coconut milk : 1 can

(I used cooking coconut powder (no sugar added,plain) 1 cup)

Onion : 1 large chopped 

Potatoes  : 3 medium , 

( peeled and cut horizontally from center in 1/4 inch thick slices. That would be 4 pieces in each potato.)

Tomatoes : 2 medium (chopped)

Cooking oil : 1 tablespoon  (I used canola oil) 

Cilantro fresh leaves : 1 tablespoon chopped 

Chilli powder : 1 teaspoon 

Salt : 1 teaspoon 

Turmeric powder : 1 / 4 teaspoon 

Coriander powder : 1 / 4 teaspoon 

METHOD 

1. In pressure cooker add washed medium size mutton pieces (with bone or boneless or mix ,your choice). Add chopped onion and tomato and turmeric powder and oil. 

Add 1 cup water. 

Cover cooker lid,put whistle and cook till meat is 80% done. 

2. Open cooker after pressure it out. Now add coconut milk (or powder) ,chilli powder, coriander powder, salt,potatoes.  

Tip: adding green chillies enhances the taste. Add about 3 chopped. I skipped this coz of preschooler who would eat. 

Cover cooker and add whistle.  Cook for 5 minutes  more .

Turn off the stove and garnish with cilantro.  

Your easy peasy two step mouthwatering mutton curry is ready.  

After step one it looks like this

Add coconut powder

Add Masalas

Add potatoes 

When u open cooker after all cooking it looks rich like this. 

Dahi Raita : Yogurt Salad

Dahi raita is salad made with yogurt usually eaten with biryani, pulao , ghee rice and similar rice varieties.  In above picture you can dahi raita on left hand side of biryani.  There are many ways to make this . I m typing the one I made in above pic. 

Ingredients 

Onion : 1 medium  finely chopped 

Tomato : 1 large finely chopped 

Cucumber  : 1/4 finely chopped 

Green chillies : 1 or 2 finely chopped 

Fresh Mint leaves  : 1 tablespoon  finely chopped 

Parsely leaves : 1 teaspoon fine chopped

Yogurt : 1 cup

Salt 1/2 teaspoon 

Black pepper  powder  1/2  teaspoon 

Method 

1. Beat yogurt till soft 

2. Add all above ingredients  and mix

All done

Shrimps Fry ( Prawns fry) Jhinga

INGREDIENTS 

Prawns ( Shrimps or Jhinga in hindi) (I got cooked small size frozen from Walmart ) : 1 pound

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon 

Black pepper  : 1/4 teaspoon 

Red chilli powder  : 1/4 teaspoon 

Parsely flakes : 1/4 teaspoon 

Honey : 1/4 teaspoon 

Ginger garlic paste : 1/2 teaspoon 

Olive oil to fry : 2 tablespoon 

METHOD 

1. Add olive oil in a pan and thawed prawns and fry for 5 minutes on medium flame. 

2. Add all dry powders salt ND red chilli powder, black pepper powder. Fry  and stir for 3 minutes .

3. Now add ginger garlic paste and honey and parsely flakes stir for 2 minutes. 

Turn off stove and enjoy !!!

Chicken biryani

Hi,
Here is chicken biryani the way I make with some simple tips that I know of. There are many different ways of making biryani. The one I m going to type now is very easy simple and quicker compared to other recipes.  Coz I make biryani every now and then as its my family's  favorite,I make it this way to save time and energy. You can make this if in hurry or if toddler is troubling or if u feel simply lazy.

I served my biryani with dahi rata and fruits salad in mango custard. Awesome combo!!!

Ingredients :

Chicken  : 2 lbs

(You can use whole chicken cut in medium pieces or leg and thigh or boneless  breastfeeding pieces. )

Basmati Rice : 1 lb 

Washed and soaked in water for 20 minutes

Onion :  thin slices in semicircle shape 3 medium  

Ginger garlic paste : 2 tablespoon 

Yogurt : 2 cup

 Cooking Oil : 1/2 cup (I used canola oil)

Ghee pure Desi ghee : 3 tablespoon 

Cloves: 4-5

Bay leaves : 2

Cardamom : 4

Cinnamon stick: 1 inch 

Black pepper corns : 4-5

Shahzeera : 1 teaspoon  (or plain cumin seeds )

Red chilli powder  : 1 teaspoon 

Salt : 1 teaspoon 

Coriander powder : 1 teaspoon 

Turmeric powder : 1 / 4 teaspoon 

Garam Masala powder : 1/2 teaspoon 

Fresh mint leaves : 2 tablespoon fine chopped 

Green chillies  : fine chopped 2 tablespoon 

(I used very course chopped as 3 year old is eating and he can separate them easily )

Parsely  : 2 tablespoon fine chopped 

Lemon juice : 2 tablespoon 

Saffron strands : 10 strands soaked in water for 1 hr. 

METHOD 

1. Fry onion till golden brown . Remove from oil (on tissue if u want) And set aside . This should be crispy. 

Tip : add pinch salt  in oil to make them crispy   and make sure they are fried like deep fry.  This process is called brista or barishta.  

2.  Take chicken pieces in big  mixing bowl.  Wash chicken.  Add ginger garlic paste,red chilli powder, salt , turmeric powder, coriander powder,  half of all these- chopped  mint,parsely,fried onions and green chillies ,lemon juice and   yogurt . Mix well and cover and marinate for minimum 2 hours .I usually marinate overnight in fridge. 

3. Heat oil in a pan on medium flame and add chicken pieces from marinade only. Fry for 15 minutes stirring and mixing. Later add the masala (gravy) of marinade and mix again. Cover and cook till chicken is 80% done. 

4.  Add to soaked rice (in same water)cloves,cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper corns, shahzeera ,salt and one tablespoon oil and one teaspoon lemon juice and boil till rice is 40%-50%  done. Drain the rice throughly till all water is out in strainer. 

In above pic I have added cinnamon powder as I ran out of cinnamon stick. 

5. In a broad and thick  bottom pan add Desi ghee at base and spread two to three cooking spoons of rice evenly. Spread 2-3 cooking spoons  chicken gravy evenly over. Next sprinkle some barista over it evenly , and chopped green chiili, parsely and mint leaves evenly.  Pour 1 teaspoon of Saffron water and 1/2 teaspoon ghee evenly around vessel. .

Repeat layering of rice,chicken gravy,barista , chopped  greens , Saffron water and ghee till all done. 

TIP: Alternatiely u can use a baking tray and do this layering in baking tray. And bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. 

6. After layering in done. Whether u use pan or baking tray, cover with aluminum foil to not let vapor escape. And cook on low flame for 30-45 minutes.  

Serve hot with dahi raita. 

Find recipe here : 

Best  Kitchen Recipes http://recipesens.blogspot.com/Enjoy!!

The below two pictures are the time when  I baked in oven.