Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate pudding is a rich velvety dessert which, I bet,any chocolate lover can't let go off so easily. For those people who have tasted the 'Danette' chocolate pudding(it's a ready made one found in stores in Dubai)this recipe would let you make exactly the same,I promise.I was really skeptical about it initially,but then, one fine evening I gave in to my strong cravings for a chocolaty treat, the best part of this dessert is that,most of its ingredients are readily available in most households,so no pre-planning required!

I found it's recipe in GoodHousekeeping magazine, further searches gave me few other recipes, some used dutch cocoa powder,and some other recipe required unsweetened cocoa powder. I decided to go with Cadbury cocoa powder,you may increase the amount of sugar in this recipe if dominant sweet taste satisfies your taste buds else go with chocolate for a cocoa-dominated pudding.
Also Check out the Goodhousekeeping site,for really good housekeeping tricks,I mean a beautiful site for any woman trying to master her domestic management skills,after all, which woman does not want to become a domestic diva,like Monica of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, but sadly enough,it will take a lot of time for me to become a diva!

Seriously,the only thing that most aunts(domestic divas) say, is that "Don't clutter,clean as you go,I mean wash and put away the plates or dishes as soon as the work is over, don't put it into the sink !! thinking you would wash it later, you would end up piling up the dishes,you will have to extend another half an hour to complete the washing !!!", but then you know sometimes I do sometimes I dont,hmmmmmmmm long way to go !:-)

So here is the recipe.
Ingredients:

1)cocoa powder-1/3 cup
2)egg yolk-4 large
3)corn flour-1/4 cup
4)sugar-2/3 cup
5)vanilla extract-1 tsp
6)unsalted butter-2 tbsp
7)milk-2.5 cup
8)salt-1/4 tsp

Method:

--In a thick bottomed saucepan put sugar,cornflour,cocoa powder,egg yolks,warm milk and salt,mix well using a whisk,such that all the powdered ingredients are well dissolved in it,without any lumps.
--Put a sieve on a bowl and keep aside.
--After mixing,put the saucepan on heat and keep stirring with a whisk,when it starts bubbling,lower the flame, and whisk scraping the sides and the bottom,it takes seconds for it to to turn from liquid to a thick consistancy, so just see that,when the mixture starts getting thick,turn off the flame and,put the mixture in the sieve,pass it through the sieve,and collect it in the bowl below it,to ensure no lumps are formed.
--Finally,add the vanilla essence and the unsalted butter(@ room temperature)to the sieved mixture and mix well, till butter is melted and mixed well in the pudding.
--Cover the bowl with a cling wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least two hours,it tastes best when it is chilled!
--You can also add chopped toasted cashews or almonds,or any nuts of your choice!
--So enjoy the chocolate pudding,lick your spoon clean!lol(I cleaned my bowl:))

Maaheqaliya and Khadi daal

Maaheqaliya is a typical Hyderabadi dish,but not a very common one,when I got married and did not know cooking,I missed this a lot, and searched for the recipe on net,books...but without any luck, finally I got this recipe from my Mom,and a bunch of other recipes too, during her visit.
Sameeha liked this a lot and had it for lunch,then for dinner and then again next day,she asked if she can eat that again:-).
Recently Sameeha got infected by conjunctivitis, she suffered with it for almost a week,from high temperature and 'Lalita Pawar' type of eye, and vomiting.
Then Alhamdulillah she got better,but now her infection has passed on to Huda,and now mypoor baby is sick,Sameeha was co-operative in the matter of medicines and eye drops,but a little bit fussy with suppositives, but Huda is impossible with medicines,drops,suppositives....everything! Today MashAllah I can see little improvement in her condition,her temperature has subsided,but still she is little cranky.
So here goes the recipe,
The basic recipe of Maheeqaliya is similar to that of Bagaare baingan
Ingredients for Maaheqaliya

1)Mutton 300 gms
2)peanuts 3 Tbsp
3)sesame(thil) 3Tbsp
4)dessicated coconut 1/2 cup(usage of kacha naaryal makes it all the more tasty)
5)dhanya powder 1 Tsp
6)zeera pdr 1 Tsp
7)onion 3 medium
8)ginger garlic paste 2 tbsp
9)salt
10)red chilli powder 1.5 tsp
11)turmeric 1/2 tsp
12)curry leaves 2 sprig
13)green chillies 2-3
14)cilantro
15)tamarind pulp 1 cup
16)oil
17)methi,zeera and mustard seeds for tempering
Method:

--In a frying pan,heat oil and fry the sliced onions,till it starts getting golden brown,chill,you don't need to worry about it getting crispy,as anyhow you have to grind it.
--Dry roast peanuts,sesame and coconut.Grind all this together,I grind sesame first ,when it is grounded to fine powder I add the rest(peanuts,coconut,onion).
--Take this grounded masala and to it add red chilli powder,turmeric,salt,dhanya powder,zeera powder and keep it aside.
--Soak the tamarind in warm water.
--After some time squeeze out the pulp and strain,reserve the tamarind pulp.
--In a saucepan,heat oil add methi,zeera and mustard seeds,when it starts spluttering,slip in the mutton,fry for some time and then add ginger garlic paste,fry till you get the pleasant aroma of fried g/g,then add the grounded masala, and bhoonofy(fry)really well,till the color of the mixture is golden,stirring constantly,this masala has the tendency to stick to the bottom of the pan,so keep scraping the bottom and the sides,while you stir,you need to fry(bhoono) it good,otherwise you will be able to find the presence of peanuts VERY prominent.
--After frying,slowly add the tamarind pulp into the mixture and then add curry leaves ,cilantro and slitted green chillies ,wait till the mixture starts bubbling,add water if necessary.
--Lower the flame,and cover the saucepan and let it cook on low flame till the mutton is tender, stir it constantly,scraping the bottom, at this point you can taste and check if salt,dhanya powder or zeera powder is ok, if not u can add now.
--After the mutton is tender,check the consistency of the curry,and if necessary add water and let simmer for additional five minuites turn off the stove,but let it stand for a while.
--Serve hot with Khadi daal and chawal. great with roti as well!

Khadi dal:
Masoor dal 1 cup
Onion 1
g/g paste 1 tsp
turmeric 1/4 tsp
red chilli powder 1 tsp
salt
cilantro
green chillies 3 slitted
oil
water

Method:

--Heat oil in a saucepan,add onion and fry till onion is translucent,then add g/g paste,red chilli powder,turmeric,salt ,fry and then put 1 cup water(some people like it whole and some cooked mushy,I like itwhole so less water,you can alter your way:)) into it.
--to the water add chopped cilantro and slitted green chillies, taste a drop of the water,if it tastes like tear then the salt is right(yeah wierd this tip was shown to me by my sis)!
--Now when this water starts boiling,put the washed masoor dal in the boiling water,wait till it starts boiling again, and then lower the flame cover the saucepan and let it cook,keep checking,it is cooked really fast.
--After it is done garnish it with chopped cilantro.

Jokes

Hi,I just recieved these jokes in a forward, couldn't stop laughing,I thought of sharing it with you guys
hope you like it:-)


1. Lecturer : Write a note on Gandhi Jayanthi.
Sardar : Gandhi was a great man but maa kasam, I
don ' t know who is Jayanthi.

2. Sardar : You cheated me.
Shopkeeper: How ?
Sardar : You said this is American made radio. But
when I put it ON, it says All IndiaRadio.

3. Sardar got into a bus on 1st April when conductor
asked for ticket. He gave Rs.10/- and took the
ticket and said April fool.. I have a pass.


4. Sardar joined new job. 1st day he worked till
late evening on the computer. Boss was happy and
asked what you did till evening.
Sardar : Keyboard alphabets were not in order, so I
made it alright..

5. On a romantic day sardar's girlfriend asks him.
Darling on our engagement day will you give me a
ring.
Sardar : Ya sure, from landline or mobile.

6. Doctor to patient : You will die within 2 hours.
Do you want to see any one before you die?
Patient : Yes. A good doctor.

7. 2 sardar s were fixing a bomb in a car.
Sardar 1 : What would you do if the bomb explodes
while fixing.
sardar 2 : Dont worry, I have one more.

8. Interviewer : When is your birthday.
Sardar : 13th Oct.
Interviewer : which year ?
sardar : Oye Ullu ke patte : Every year.

9. Sardar was busy removing a wheel from his auto.
A man asks sardar why are you removing a wheel from
your auto.
sardar : Cant you read the board. Parking is only
for 2 wheeler.

10. Sardar : What is the name of your car ?
Lady : I forgot the name, but is starts with "T".
Sardar : Oye Kamaal ki gaadi hai, Tea se start hoti
hai. Hamaara gaadi petrol se start hoti hai.

11. Boss : Where were you born ?
sardar : Punjab .
Boss : which part ?
sardar : Kya which part ? Whole body born in punjab.



12. American told sardar : Hamare desh me 90% shaadi
e-mail se hoti hai.
Sardar : Kya bath hai. Hamari desh me 100% female se
hoti hai.


13. How will you destroy a submarine full of
sardars ?
Simple. Just knock at the door and they will open it.