Tasty and yummy vegetable puffs- A perfect and complete snack

Here is a lip smacking snack loved by everybody.  Its crunchy outside and the smooth masala veggies inside, a perfect and complete fulfilling snack.  In my childhood, we used to go to the nearby "Varghese Bakery' to have one of these and this treat was reserved for special occasions.  Hot puffs removed from the baker's small oven smeared with some tomato sauce used to heavenly. 

Last week, when my daughter called me to tell that she just finished making puffs at home, my initial reaction was 'Ahhhhhhhh". I always thought it to be laborious and once she explained to me, I totally agreed with her and  it was easy breezy to prepare veggie puff.
You can subsitute your own choice of filling, enjoy the treat :):) 

Vegetable Puff recipe:

Ingredients:

Puff pastry sheets: 12 nos (small squares)

Mixed vegetables (finely chopped): Potato, carrots, beans, peas, lima beans, bell peppers

Onion: 1 large

Green chillies: 2nos (depending on the spice)

Cumin seeds: 1tsp

Red chilli powder: 1 tsp

Turmeric: 1/2 tsp

Cilantro/corriander leaves

Curry leaves: a sprig

Oil: 2 tsp

Salt to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees along with a pizza stone.
2. Pour some oil into a pan, add the cumin seeds and let it splutter
3. Add the curry leaves and onion to this. Fry the onion until it is translucent (cooked).
4. Add the red chillies and turmeric.
5. Add the mixed vegetables and salt.  Cover this and cook the vegetables for a few minutes until it has a slight crunch to it.  Note that, when you bake the puff, the vegetables will cook some more.  Do not overcook the vegetables.  Let it sit for sometime to cool.  Add the chopped cilantro. 
6. I thawed the puff pastry sheet for 1 hr. Apply some all purpose flour and roll out thesheetsthe sheets. Use some all purpose flour if the puff pastry is very sticky. This will also ensure your puff pastry does not stick to the pizza stone. (My first one got stuck to the pizza stone- lesson learnt :-)) 
7. Place vegetables on one half of the puff pastry sheet.
8. Roll over the other half.
9. Make sure to leave ½ cm on the sides. Use a fork and seal the edges.

 

10.  A lot of people brush the puff pastry with egg to get a golden brown gloss. I do not like the flavor   of egg on my puff pastry sheets and hence I used some milk (to be very honest it added only a slightly more crunch to my already crunchy puff pastry :-))

11.  Place the puff pastry on the pre-heated pizza stone and into the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 

12.  My first puff was slightly brown as I had exceeded the time and was worried I would burn it. But, let the puff pastry bake in oven until you see a golden brown cover. This will ensure the puff pastry is cooked through and stay crunchy for a longer time.

13.   Enjoy with some Maggie ketchup (I used hot and sweet- yum!)

      'Life is too short and I'm Italian. I'd much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 'O' -Sophia Bush

Mahashivarathri

On this auspicious occasion of Mahashivarathri, may God grant all your wishes and keep you and your family healthy and happy in the coming years.

Things we learn from language-Got this as a fwd,loved it-hence for you all to enjoy :):)

Words and language, more than anything, are forms of giving meaning to things. Most of what we know and understand is there because of language, because of the way it is spoken or written. That is why, as we learn more languages, we understand more and more about the world. Most of all, without language, would we still have a sense of humor?

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Got this as a forward, this is just awesome,am sure you would love it.

Attitude is something which changes the way one looks at a situation or experiences it.  It is always good to have a positive outlook which changes the consequence decision to it.  When we are upset about anything, the normal thought would be to think 'why me' and then brood over it. Now, just try thinking a different way of approaching it and one can really see the difference it makes. When I got this forward from my cousin, I could not, but enjoy each one of them and they were true to the core. I felt that some of them were written just for me. Hope you too would enjoy and adapt some in your like when the situation arises. Enjoy !!!!!!!!!



When Snake is alive, Snake eats Ants.

When Snake is dead, Ants eat Snake.

Time can turn at any time.

Don't neglect anyone in your life.

Never make the same mistake twice,

There are so many new ones,

Try a different one each day.

A good way to change someone's attitude is to change your own.

Because, the same sun that melts butter, also hardens clay!

Life is as we think, so think beautifully.

Life is just like a sea, we are moving without an end.

Nothing stays with us,

what remains is just the memories of some people who touched us as Waves..

Whenever you want to know how rich you are, never count your currency,

Just try to Drop a Tear and count how many hands reach out to WIPE that-

that is true richness.

Heart tells the eyes "See less, because you see and I suffer lot".

Eyes replied, "Feel less because you feel and I cry a lot".

Never change your originality for the sake of others,

because no one can play your role better than you.

So be yourself, because whatever you are, YOU are the best.

Baby mosquito came back after his maiden flight.

His mom asked him "How do you feel?"

He replied "It was wonderful, Everyone was clapping for me!"

Now that's What is a Positive Attitude

Yummy Pineapple upside down cake

It has been a long time since I wanted to bake pineapple upside down cake. Not only it tastes good, it is a feast to the eyes too.  I finally decide to surprise my better half with this and hunted for a good recipe. I found one of the best in Joyofbaking.com and am happy of the outcome. Thanks Stephanie for the recipe. I made a few changes on the availability of ingredients and the result was wonderful. 

Pre heat the oven to 350 deg.

For the cake:
Flour - 1 1/2 cups
Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 2 large
Milk - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp

For the topping
Pineapple- quartered pieces
Butter - 4 tbsp
Brown sugar - 3/4 cup

For the topping, add the brown sugar and butter in a pan in low heat until the butter has melted.  Keeping in heat for a few more minutes. makes the sugar to caramelize. Once the caramelized stage is reached, pour the contents to a greased baking pan and evenly arrange the quartered pineapple slices on top of the caramelized mix.


Sift the flour with baking powder and salt.  Separate the yolk and the whites of the egg.  Whisk the egg white well until it is stiff. 

Mix the sugar and butter until it is light and fluffy (5-6 min) and then add the vanilla extract.  To this mixture, add the egg yolks beating well. Now, add the flour and the milk alternatively ending with milk. Gently, fold in the egg white to this flour mixture. Pour this mix into the baking dish already with pineapple and caramel topping.

Bake  for about 40 to 50 minutes. Allow it to cool for about 45 min before turning it upside down.

Yummy gooey pineapple upside down cake is ready to devour.