Cold Coffee

For all the coffee lovers out there, here is a simple cold coffee recipe to beat the summer heat. 

Ingredients:

Milk 2 cups
Instant coffee 1 tbsp, heaped
Sugar 3-4 tbsp
Water ¼ cup
Tetra Pak cream 
Ice cubes


Method:

1. Dissolve the coffee and sugar in lukewarm water, allow it to cool.
2. Blend together the milk, sugar, dissolved coffee and ice cubes till it's frothy. 
3. Pour in a serving glass, add a dollop of cream on top, sprinkle some coffee and serve! :D 

How to Whip Cream.

Whipped cream is never available in Pakistan, or at least I haven't seen it in any super stores yet. Today I'll share some very important points of how to make your own whipped cream at home with y'all.

Firm whipped cream 

What You Need:

Nestle Creations cream, 1 packet
Icing sugar 2 tbsp
Mixing bowl
Electric beater or whisk


Method:

1. In a large bowl, use a whisk or a beater to whip cream. 
2. Whip the cream into soft peaks until it clings when the whisk or beater is lifted. This can be used in making mixtures, such as mousse. You can also add icing sugar at this point and beat again.
3. For firm peaks, continue to beat until the cream holds firmly to whisk or beater. This can be used for decorations of desserts. 

Tips:

• Make sure not to over-beat, cream will then become grainy and butter-like. 
• Sweeten cream with icing sugar when it starts forming soft peaks.
• Always chill a large empty bowl, and whisk or the beater for at least 15-20 mins before whipping the cream.
• Make sure your cream is always super chilled.
• You can also put the bowl of cream over a bowl of ice-cubes and beat.
• Any cream can be whipped as long as it has 40% fat content in it.

Eggless Chocolate Mousse

Is there any better dessert than chocolate mousse? The mousse is light, airy, extremely delicious, and has a soft silky touch to it with just the perfect amount of sweetness. 

The French use egg whites, separated and whipped in chocolate mousse. But we figured many people may not be so keen on using raw eggs in their desserts. So this one is made with gelatin instead. This is the easiest chilled dessert I have ever made. It is simple, quick and oh-so-easy to make. 

Ingredients:

Milk 2 ½ cups
Cocoa powder 2 tbsp
Cornflour 1 tbsp, heaped
Whipped cream ½ cup
Sugar 4-5 tbsp
Gelatin 1 tbsp, heaped
Vanilla essence 1 tsp
Chocolate 50 grams


Method:

1. Dissolve cocoa powder and cornflour in ½ cup of milk.
2. Add the remaining 2 cups of milk in a pot, and let it simmer on low heat.
3. Pour in the dissolved cocoa powder and cornflour mixture gradually. Keep stirring, so it doesn't form any lumps.
4. Add the sugar and chocolate, and let it cook until chocolate melts and the mixture is slightly thick in consistency. Remove from stove.
5. Let this mixture cool at room temperature, stir every now and then, now add vanilla essence, and fold in the whipped cream with the help of a spatula.
6. Now take a sauce, dissolve gelatin in ¼ cup of water for 2 mins on very low heat.
7. Add the dissolved gelatin in the milk mixture. 
8. Beat it with the help of beater for 1-2 minutes. Or you can also whisk it.
9. Pour the mixture in serving bowl or individual cups. And put it into the refrigerator to set for at least 5-6 hours, preferable overnight. 
10. Garnish with white chocolate, or whipped cream. Serve chilled! 

* If you cannot find Halal gelatin in your country, then use ¾ tbsp of agar agar powder. 

How to Test Yeast, Baking Powder and Baking Soda for Freshness.

Do you ever wonder if your yeast, baking powder and baking soda are fresh? If you haven't used these products in a while and you're unsure about their freshness, I have perfect methods for you to do so. If the yeast, baking powder and baking soda aren't fresh, your baked good won't rise properly.


It is recommended that you test your yeast to determine the strength, freshness and ensure that it is still active. If it's not, you are going to regret it. With expired baking soda, you can technically still use it for cleaning as it might have some potency remaining, but it will not be powerful enough to be used for baking. Using expired baking powder is a complelety different story. With that, you'll only end up with flat cakes etc and unfortunately, there's no remedy for that.

So, before you chuck these products away, check to see if they're still viable.

Here's how.

Testing Yeast:

Add a tsp of yeast in some warm water (make sure the water is NOT HOT otherwise it will kill the yeast, it has to be finger-bearable warm) then add a few pinches of sugar and keep it covered for about 10-15 minutes. If it doesn't froth, then the yeast isn't active and you might need to replace it. 

Testing Baking Soda:

Pour a few tablespoons of white vinegar into a small bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda -- if it's fresh, the mixture should fizz and bubble furiously. If it doesn't have a strong reaction, then you might want to consider tossing it and buying a new box or just setting it aside for cleaning pots and pans.

Testing Baking Powder:

Pour a few tablespoons of warm water into a small bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder to the warm water -- the mixture should fizz moderately if the powder is fresh. If there is no reaction, then chuck it and buy a new canister of baking powder.

Source: link

Chili Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken boneless ½ kg

Salt ½ tsp

White pepper ½ tp

Egg 1

Cornflour 1 tbsp heaped

Method:

1. Mix the ingredients listed above in a bowl. Put boneless chicken pieces in it.
2. Cover and let it marinate for at least half an hour.
3. Heat oil in a wok, and deep fry chicken pieces until cooked through.

For the Gravy:

Oil ¼ cup

Garlic chopped 1 tsp heaped

Ginger chopped 1 tsp heaped

Red chilies dry 7-8 

Salt ½ tsp

Red chili powder ½ tsp

Sugar 1 tsp

White pepper ½ tsp

White vinegar 2 tbsp

Chili garlic sauce 2 tbsp

Soy sauce 1 tbsp

Sesame oil 2 tbsp (optional)

Cornflour 1 tbsp (dissolved in ½ cup of water)

Capsicum 1 (remove seeds and cut into squares)

Onion 1 medium (cut into squares)

Green onions 2-3 tbsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in a wok. Add chopped ginger and garlic. Fry until golden brown in color. 
2. Add dried red chilies. Fry for a minute.
3. Add all the seasonings and sauces, stir fry on high flame for 2-3 minutes.
4. Now put the fried chicken pieces, and sugar in it. Slow down the flame, and let it cook for at least 5 minutes.
5. Add dissolved cornflour and keep stirring until the gravy is thick in consistency. 
6. Add vegetables, sesame oil. Serve with egg fried rice.

*Sesame oil really enhance the flavor of your dish, it also gives it a glossy finish and special aroma. I always use it in Thai/Chinese cuisines and soups. 

How to Make Self Rising Flour.

Self-rising flour is simply all-purpose flour with leavening agents added to help baked goods rise. As self-rising flour costs more than all-purpose flour, many people do not keep it on hand. So if you have a recipe that calls for it, you can make your own. It's very easy to make self-rising flour at home with just a few ingredients you likely already have in your cupboards. 

1. Take a cup of all-purpose flour. 
2. Now measure 1½ tsp of baking powder, and ½ tsp of salt. Put it into the all-purpose flour.
3. Stir with the wooden spoon until the ingredients are combined. 
4. Place it in a air-tight container. Label it self rising flour. 
5. And make sure to keep it cool and dry until you use it.