Easy to make Strawberry Muffins

Food is not about impressing people It's about making them feel comfortable." said Ina Garten, in 'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and thats exactly the way I approach cooking or baking. For me, the food that I cook has to be quick and tasty. And I'm positive that many of you feel exactly the same way. In this post, I'm talking about home made strawberry muffins. They could also have been presented very simply but, I'm choosing to present the 'dressed up' version.

Easy to make Strawberry Muffins Ingredients for 8 large muffins 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup sugar Half cup chopped strawberries( frozen/fresh) 2 whole eggs 250 gms butter 1/2 cup milk/yogurt vanilla essence 1 tsp baking powder Method Prepare the muffin tin with greased and lined muffin tins.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix and gently stir the wet ingredients- butter, eggs, vanilla and strawberry essences, in another dry mixing bowl.Make sure that the mix is uniform and not too thick or too thin. Slowly fold in the chopped strawberries and keep the prepared mix aside. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ones and fold in gently to get a uniform mix. Bake in a preheated oven at 150 C for 25/30 mins and insert a dry toothpick to see if the muffins are ready.

Keep on a wire rack to cool . Once the muffins have cooled, dust with icing sugar and decorate with edible sugar decorations. Sit back and enjoy these anytime treats accompanied with a hot cup of tea or coffee and make sure you share them with friends and family. Then watch their faces light up with joy!

Vegetable Puffs- A great Teatime Treat, the Super Easy Way!

Super quick and easy vegetable puffs

You look in the frig and find that you have a few leftover vegetables. 

Teatime's approaching and you decide to dig  deeper into the frig and see what else is available. 

I always keep a block of Cheddar cheese and low fat puff pastry so that I can make a some super easy and quick vegetable or chicken puffs as the case may be.

So here are my ingredients for 11 large Vegetable puffs

Some cooked paneer( cottage cheese)

Some cooked peas and carrots

One egg to coat the sealed puffs

Grated cheddar cheese

Light puff pastry

Pre heat oven to 100 degrees c and prepare the filling. 

Separate the puff pastry sheets and fill them with the mix.

Shape and close each of the puffs.

Brush lightly with egg wash. This helps to give the light golden colour and makes the puffs more flaky.

Gently move them into the tray and then into the oven

All Set to bake

Set timer for 20 mins first.Watch carefully while baking.

If required, bake for a further 5-10 mins.

Wait till the colour is a golden brown and the puffs look crisp.

All done

Bring the tray out. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes

Serve with chilli sauce, mustard and ketchup.

Top with a large mug of tea.

Try them, they make  a great teatime/anytime snack!

Brand new Waffle Sandwiches, Mousse Glasses and Chocolicious Treats at The Chocolate Room Oman

Any good restaurant is definitely about much more than just the food. It has to have a total package, of which the front house service,  customer care and the efficiency of response to feedback rate very high on my list. For the growing 'chocolate lovers' community in Muscat, there is a great place where one can head to and savour a wide variety of all things 'chocolicious' and definitely meets all the criteria I've just listed. Located in Al Marafah Street, Mirbat Tower in Ghubra, The Chocolate Room which has just celebrated its first anniversary, is  open, airy, well lit with a wide ranging menu for people of all age groups. 

The exciting new range-Chocolate, Nutella  Mousse Glasses, Marshy Berry and Peanut Banana Waffle Sandwiches


We've been there a number of times and enjoyed each of those visits.Last evening we were invited to the Soft Launch of a new range of waffle sandwiches and Mousse Glasses by the Store Manager Jergen Enriqeues and had a really great time trying out the 'chocolicious' range of goodies that were brought out one after the other.

Jergen tells us how these new introductions were created.

Jergen ( who is a trained Barista) and his team went about developing and creating these new dishes in a very patient and methodical way.As he describes it, "the first time creation of the banana peanut waffle sandwich topped by a milk chocolate sauce as well as a delicate cinnamon sauce was good, the second version better and the third version exactly what we were looking for." And take if from me, the version that we ate last evening was absolutely delicious!

The Peanut Butter Banana Waffle Sandwich 
Topped by a milk chocolate sauce and a delicate cinnamon sauce which uplifts it to an entirely different level.

In store decorations marking the one year celebrations

My regular low fat cappuccino- tastes even better than it looks

The Marshy Berry Waffle Sandwich- strawberry, raspberry and a blueberry concoction topped with a delightful marshmallow sauce

The grand finale- Nutella Mousse and an exotic Dark Chocolate Mousse  topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips

It was a really great evening and what we enjoyed most was the understanding of the kind of time, effort, topped by a huge amount of passion and commitment it takes to create highly innovative  potential best sellers

All smiles- Avi and Jergen 

My personal favourite - The Marshy Berry Waffle sandwich

With Valentines Day approaching and a glorious February weekend to boot, I'm positive that the exciting introductions at the Chocolate Room Oman are all set to  delight young and old alike.  And before I close, I'd like to congratulate Team Chocolate Room for the hard work, team effort, enthusiasm and culinary passion that have helped the outlet grow by leaps and bounds in the very first year of its operations in Muscat.

'Luquaimat' and Tea. What I learnt about this traditional Omani sweet at Muscat Festival 2015

Luqaimat  is a well-known Arab dessert and a 'must have' in Arab homes for Iftar. Also known as a crunchy sweet dumpling, it varies from country to country and I had a wonderful opportunity to see it being made 'up close and personal' at Muscat Festival 2015 last Thursday.  

My 'Golden bowl of delights' Luquaimat, accompanied by a delicious cardamom tea.

Halfway through my visit to Muscat Festival 2015, I found myself feeling slightly peckish and the need for a cup of tea was very strong. Heading towards the food stalls, I was wondering exactly what I should have when I heard someone calling out to me. It turned out to be the heroine of today's story, Fathiya, a 43 year old from Rustaq who showed me exactly how it was made, patiently answered all my queries and best of all, allowed me to photograph her at each stage. 

Fathiya putting the dumplings into hot oil

"See they are turning golden  in colour"- she tells me

Moved to a draining bowl and left for a few minutes

 What I learnt from Fathiya however was that the dumpling itself was not sweet but the syrup that is poured over it is what gives it that sweet taste.

Moving to the sit down area, I sat and enjoyed my teatime treats and moved on...refreshed and thoroughly rejuvenated!

For those of you who might be interested in trying it out, I have located a variation of the basic recipe that uses condensed milk at the last stage. In my opinion that really makes it even more delicious. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp corn flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast
• 1 tsp of sugar
• 3/4 – 1 cup of water
• Condensed milk
• Oil to taste

Method

• Mix the all purpose flour, corn flour, yeast and sugar in a bowl.
• Gradually add the water and keep on mixing until  you get a smooth batter. It should be in dripping consistency( not too watery or too thick)
• Cover the batter for 1 or 2 hours until the batter has doubled. The batter now should have bubbles and look somewhat bouncy.
• Heat oil in a wok. Scoop a small amount of batter with your fingers and drop them into the hot oil 
• Fry till they turn golden brown. Remove from oil, and place them on kitchen paper.
• Pour condensed milk or your favorite syrup on top.

Sit back with friends and enjoy with a hot cup of tea, coffee or better still, on their own.

An Unforgettable Coffee at the Peacock Alley, Waldorf Astoria Hilton, Ras Al Khaimah

Coffee is my favourite 'any time of the day' beverage and is truly something that keeps me going. So  when I recently had the opportunity to have an extra special cup of that beverage in the exquisite Peacock Alley at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, it was a special moment. I must add here that it it was made extra special by the fact that our daughter Neha Singh is currently working in the Pastry section of this stunning hotel and this visit to the beautiful property was  something that we had really been looking forward to.

Probably the most memorable cup of coffee I've ever had.

Inspired by the palaces of the Arabian Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is ideally located 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport. This is true luxury defined and then some!A palatial spa and golf resort,it brings the legendary Waldorf service to one of the most stunning locations in the Middle East.

Entering the stunning foyer and looking straight at the signature Waldorf Astoria Clock

Peacock Alley is also home to another signature Waldorf Astoria attribute - a special legendary timepiece. This exquisite clock designed and built by Smith of Derby, a family of clockmakers who, for over 300 years, have created and cared for some of the world's more recognized public clocks. The grand lobby clock at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah has been exclusively designed to honor regional Arabic culture and includes the five daily prayer times.

The beautiful peacock- the mascot of the Peacock Alley

A famed Waldorf Astoria tradition, Peacock Alley is an impressive signature lounge with all the signs of the magnificent plumage and parading that is assimilated with the Peacock. Serving the world's finest coffees and light bites, the lounge is a fabulous meeting place throughout the day where Waldorf signature dishes are served, including the renowned Waldorf Salad. Here, the design mixes local touches with contemporary style inspired by the brand’s New York City flagship. A ring of banquettes encircle a tiered, marble fountain, a spectacular chandelier with handcrafted glass elements suggest stylised peacock feathers is the centre piece.

Loved the ambience and beauty all around us

Very happy to be here

The polished coffee percolator 

The tea trolley is wheeled in and we are spoilt for choice

My choice- an exquisite creation-the Red Velvet cake

Avi chose his favourite, a decadent chocolate creation 

The Peacock motif is echoed throughout the Peacock Alley.This cake is another example of how beautifully it all blends in

Look carefully and you will see the same motif on the grand staircase.

Leaving the hotel as the sun was just about to set

Driving back to Dubai and already looking forward to our next visit!

Festive Strawberry Muffins

Food is not about impressing people It's about making them feel comfortable." said Ina Garten, in  'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and thats exactly the way I approach cooking or baking.

For me, the food that I cook has to be quick and  tasty. And I'm positive that many of you feel exactly the same way.

In this post, I'm talking about home made strawberry muffins. They could have been presented very simply but because its the festive season, I'm choosing to present the 'dressed up' version.

Festive Strawberry Muffins

Ingredients for 8 large muffins

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

Half cup chopped strawberries( frozen/fresh)

2 whole eggs

250 gms butter

1/2 cup milk/yogurt

vanilla essence

1 tsp baking powder

Method

Prepare the muffin tin with greased and lined muffin tins.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a  mixing bowl.

Mix and gently stir the wet ingredients- butter, eggs, vanilla and strawberry essences, in another dry mixing bowl.Make sure that the mix is uniform and not too thick or too thin.

Slowly fold in the chopped strawberries and keep the prepared mix aside.

Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ones and fold in gently to get a uniform mix.

 

Bake in a preheated oven at 150 C for 25/30 mins and insert a dry toothpick to see if the muffins are ready.

Keep on a wire rack to cool .

Once the muffins have cooled, dust with icing sugar and decorate with edible sugar decorations.






Sit back and enjoy these anytime treats accompanied with a hot cup of tea or coffee and make sure you share them with friends and family.

Then watch their faces light up with joy!

And remember, the festive season just got started...

An exciting Chocolate Fondue Demonstration and High Tea at the Al Bustan Ritz Carlton, Muscat

Just yesterday I came across this great little post on a site called 'Thought Catalogue'.  It was aptly titled '15 things we should stop making a big deal about'.  Something about it struck a deep chord and made me re-read it to understand the real essence of what was  being said. I'm quoting two of the most meaningful lines here "Ordering dessert when you really want dessert. Or that you want to finish all of your dessert, or that you cleared your plate because you were hungry..Life should be a balance between things that are good for you, and things that you genuinely enjoy, and you shouldn’t feel the need to excuse yourself or make a light joke about being “bad.”

Then this morning I went into the Al Bustan Ritz Carlton Hotel in Muscat for a Chocolate Fondue demonstration followed by High tea and these lines seemed perfect!  Life really has to be a balance and I know I will always keep it that way.There will have to be a time to write, a time to click photographs, go out, spend quality time with family and do that little bit for people who need it.

The Al Bustan Ritz Carlton, Muscat

For all the ladies present, the highlight of the morning was the Chocolate Fondue demonstration set up by Executive Chef Jergen Sodemann and his two young assistants Kevin and Julia who took us through the short and sweet steps involved in making three kinds of chocolate fondue.

Executive Chef Jergen Sodemann shows us the superb Ritz Carlton Chocolate cake which we then got to eat- It was in a word, superb!

Kevin then started the demonstration by showing us these  bags of fabulous chocolate ( of course, we all got to eat the chocolate). The three types of chocolate fondue that we were privileged to watch were the Manjari, Tanariva and the Dulcey chocolate fondues.

Bags of the best quality chocolate used to make the chocolate fondue

Adding the  cream and glucose 

For those of you who are interested in trying it out, here is the highly acclaimed original Ritz Carlton recipe for the Manjari ( Dark) Chocolate Fondue

Boil cream and glucose together.

Pour over the dark chocolate . 

Start using a spatula to create an emulsion.

Keep aside

Vacuum into a bag and preserve in chiller for a week

Ready to serve with these mouthwatering options

The taste of the pudding is really in the eating!

The fabulous High tea that followed

Did that make us feel really happy? I'd say Yes. So would the fifty other ladies who joined us for the event.And before closing, I will share my favourite quote on chocolate by Dave Barry."My therapist told me the way to achieve inner happiness was to finish what I start. So today I have finished two bags of M and Ms and chocolate cake. I feel better already!"  

For an anytime treat, try these easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Easy to make Chocolate chip cookies

Some of our best memories can be traced back to what we ate when we were out for a picnic, the weekly outing with our parents or even  the milk and cookies Grandma gave us when we went to stay with her. And when we think of cookies, the thought of chocolate chip cookies can never really be far away. As far as I'm concerned, they can easily be classified as an 'anytime treat' since they work equally well  with tea, coffee or milk.

So when I had an opportunity to try out this easy recipe for chocolate chip cookies,taken from a recipe book and tweaked a little to give it my personal twist, I was rather pleased when they turned out quite well. 

So here it is, the easy recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I got twelve large cookies in this batch and if you make them slightly smaller, you could easily get between 16-20.   

Ingredients

250 grams soft butter

• 150 grams caster sugar
• 40 grams cocoa powder
• 300 grams plain flour
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150 °C/300 F and line a baking sheet with parchment  paper.
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl and, when you have a light, soft, whipped mixture, beat in the 40g / one-third cup cocoa powder   when that’s mixed in, beat in the flour with the bicarb and baking powder. 
3. This mixture is  soft and sticky  so you should first roll them into balls, then slightly flatten into thick . Place them well spaced, on your baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15 minutes and take out of the oven . Leave them to cool and remember that they will continue to cook as they cool.
5. Remove the baking sheet to a cold surface and let it sit for 15 minutes before transferring the biscuits to a wire rack.

Pour yourself a larger mug of tea or coffee, sit back and enjoy..

1. PS-The best part about these cookies is that they can be kept up to a week. All you need to ensure is that they are stored in an airtight container so that they stay soft and chewy in the centre while being slightly crisp on top.