Saturday, February 1, 2014

Pumpkin pie (simple)

Making a pumpkin pie was in my mind for a long time but some how I would pick one up from the grocery store during holidays and my pie baking would be postponed. At first I saw this Libby's famous pumpkin pie recipe on the back of the Nestle evaporated milk tin's label. I saved it like a treasure and bought everything as per list. Baking a pie from scratch would have been more appropriate for blogging, but I thought these kind of convenient groceries would make cooking more easier. I prepared this pie during last year Thanksgiving and it came out very well. This recipe is a keeper for me, as we both enjoyed it very much:) Hope you all like it too!
Pumpkin pie with kulfi icecream.


Semi homemade quick pumpkin pie.

(The following recipe will give 2 pies.But I had only one crust.  So I halved the recipe and made one pie with crust and reserved the remaining mixture for another pie without crust).

Ingredients:
Pumpkin puree - 1 can (15 oz)
Nestle evaporated milk - 1 can (12 fl.oz)
Sugar - 3/4 cup
egg - 2 large
salt - 1/2 tsp
dry ginger powder - 1/2 tsp
powdered cloves - from 3 cloves
cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
crust:
graham cracker pie crust - 2
(or) one 9 inch 4 cup volume deep pie crust.

Method:
Preheat oven to 425 deg F for nearly 15 minutes.
In a large bowl beat the eggs. Mix the pumpkin puree and evaporated milk. 
In a small bowl mix  sugar, spice powders, salt. Add this to the large bowl and mix well.
Pour into ready made pie shells.
Bring down the  temperature to 350° F.
Bake for 40 - 50 minutes or until an inserted knife comes clean.
Check every 10 minutes after 35 minutes.
The next important step is cooling the pie completely. Cool it on wire rack for 2 hours.
Pumpkin pie is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve slices of pie with whipped topping or ice cream.
Keep refrigerated till use.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If using frozen pie crust: Keep it in room temperature for 1 hour to defrost it. Don't microwave.
For 9 inch  pyrex glass deep pie plate: first heat upto 400 deg F for 10  minutes. Then reduce heat to 325 deg F.
Use the above recipe completely to make 1  pie. Bake for 45 - 55 min, checking every 10 minutes after 35 minutes.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Sauteed Broccoli snack

Broccoli is another cute looking member from cabbage family. It tastes great by itself without much seasoning. Italians brought this vegetable to USA. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Broccoli is often sold in bunches by $1.49 per lb or bunch and mostly not more than that. Also we can see it in freezer aisles as microwaveable. I like fresh ones very much as they are more crunchy. But we should rinse them in water thoroughly to remove any impurities. Cooking broccoli will take less than 2 minutes in my saute process.  I make this sauteed broccoli as snack for us whenever this vegetable comes in season. Try this and enjoy a delicious easy snack.



snack box
Ingredients:
Broccoli - 1.5 lb (2 crowns)
butter or Extra virgin olive oil - 1 tbsp
salt - to taste ( 2 pinches)
garlic -10 cloves
black pepper powder - 1 pinch


Method:
Separate small florets from the broccoli bunch. 
Fill water in a large basin and wash the florets. Take them out, discard the water.
Wash again and do this thrice to remove any sand or impurities.
Let the water drain.

In a sauteing pan , heat butter or EVOO. Add peeled garlic and broccoli florets.
Reduce flame and cook covered for less than 2 minutes. No need to add water.
Sprinkle salt, pepper powder and mix well.
Switch off.

Sauteed broccoli is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve as snack.
Also can be served as side dish with baked chicken.
Ranch dip can also be used as dip for this broccoli.
The left over can be refrigerated and used for 3 days.
We can do the same process in oven too, but it will take more time.


Bakery soft Vanilla cake, Butter cream icing

Bakery soft Vanilla cake, Butter cream icing -  For a detailed explanation pls click to see my video on making vanilla cake, icing rose tech...