Monthly Archives: February 2021

Green Chutney(Lili chutney)

Chutney

Ingredients

  • 1             bunch cilantro(fresh dhania)
  • 2             jalapenos(or to taste)
  • 1/2          tsp salt
  • 1/2          tsp cumin seeds(jeera)
  • 1             lemon(juice only)

Instructions

  1. Chop the cilantro and jalapeño in chunks and rinse it in cold water.
  2. Add all the ingredients in a blender or a food processor and puree it.

Ingredients for green chutney

Gingerbread cake with cream cheese icing

Cakes and Cookies
  • 1          cup hot water
  • 3/4       cup fancy molasses
  • 1-1/2    tsp baking soda
  • 2          cups all-purpose flour
  • 2          tbsp ginger
  • 2          tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1-1/2    tsp baking powder
  • 1/4       tsp salt
  • 2          eggs
  • 1/2       cup canola oil
  • 1          cup granulated sugar

Cream Cheese icing

  • 1          250 g-package cream cheese(room temperature)
  • 1/3       cup granulated sugar
  • 1-3/4    cup 35% cream

Instructions

  • Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat oven to 350 degree.
  • Spray 3 9-inch round cake pans with butter or pam spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  • Whisk hot water with molasses in a medium bowl until smooth.
  • Whisk in baking soda.  Set aside.
  • Whisk flour, ground ginger, pumpkin spice, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Whisk eggs, oil and sugar in a large bowl.  Whisk in molasses mixture.  Gradually whisk in flour mixture just until smooth.
  • Divide batter amongst prepared pans.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.
  • Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes.
  • Run a knife around edge of pans and turn out onto rack.  Remove parchment and cool completely, about an hour.

Cream Cheese Icing

  • Beat cream cheese with 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth, 1-2 minutes.  Reduce speed to low and slowly add cream until combined.
  • Increase speed to medium-high and beat until stiff peaks form,, about 3 minutes.
  • Scoop 1 cup icing into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2in or 1in star tip.
  • Add a dollop of icing in the centre of a serving plate.  
  • Spread one-third of the icing overtop.  Add second cake layer. 
  • Spread half of the remaining icing overtop .  Add the third cake layer.
  • Spread remaining icing on top and thinly on the sides of the cake.(you want to see the cake through the icing)

Decorate

Pipe 12 rosettes along the top edge of the cake and top with gingerbread cookies.

Tip:

Cake can be made 2 days ahead.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Make icing just before serving.

Salgirah Khushialy Celebration(2020)

Special Occasion

Birthdays are a time to express affection and thanks to those we love.

Today we express our love and gratitude to the Imam on his 84th birthday.  We would have started with a devotional program, flag raising ceremony and a breakfast in Jamat Khana, but due to covid we can not get together.

The breakfast would be paratha and sambar, raita, some kind of a square/cake and chai.

In the evening we would have Thal sufro and Gatpat and then have cake and sorbet and entertainment, dandiya ras.  This year we are celebrating virtually from

our living room.  There is all kinds of entertainment and program on the Ismaili T.V.  I am sure the immediate family will share a meal together.  We would have 

shared a meal in Jamat Khana yesterday evening with live entertainment, mehindi(henna) dandia and ras.

Back in the days when the jamat was small, cake and Khadho(Saffron Milk) was served after khana.  Now we serve Sherbat and cake. 

Khadho is a hot drink, popular in India and Pakistan, it is usually flavoured with  cardamon, nutmeg and saffron, making it very aromatic and flavourful.  It is sprinkled with almonds and pistachio..  It is a celebration drink.  It is served at parties, engagements, weddings, Birthdays and announcing the birth of a child.  It is a very delicious drink but at the same time it is also rich both in texture and also in calories.  It is not something you drink everyday.

Sherbat is a Milk shake(cold drink) flavoured with rose essence, Takmaria(basil seeds) and almonds and pistachios.  It is a celebratory drink and is served at wedding and parties, Eid and Khushiyali.

Since we are celebrating Salgirah Khusiyali on the 13December 2020, and are celebrating virtually, I made a Pistachio Cannoli Cake, Khadho and Sherbat for my family.

Kadho

Khadho

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1           lt Homo milk
  • 1           can evaporated milk
  • 1/2        can evaporated milk or (sugar to taste)
  • 1/4        tsp freshly crushed Cardamon seeds
  • 1/4        tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 20         strands of saffron
  • 1           oz each sliced almonds and pistachio

Instructions.

  1. In a coffee grinder, or a mortar and pestle, crush cardamom seeds, nutmeg and saffron into a powder.
  2. In a medium saucepan, over medium high heat bring the milk to a boil, stirring constantly so that the milk does not burn.
  3. As soon as the milk reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low, add evaporated milk, condensed milk and the spices and cook over low heat for 5 min. stirring continuously.
  4. Pour it into cups, sprinkle with almonds and pistachio and serve.

spices