Lachha Paratha

Submitted by Rachna
Serves 2

Laccha ParathaMaida is a specific type of wheat flour from India.  It closely resembles finely ground cake flour, so if you cannot find Maida you may try to substitute cake flour.   This recipe has been previously published on Rachna’s blog and was republished with her permission.  

Lachha Paratha
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Enjoy this soft, crispy and multi-layered parotta with delicious curry.
Ingredients
  • 2 c. All Purpose flour Maida
  • 2 tsp semolina
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp butter or ghee
  • 2 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 c. water
Instructions
  1. In a large mixing bowl, add all purpose flour, semolina, sugar & salt. Whisk it once. Add water in the flour mixture.
  2. Start kneading the dough. Dough consistency should be Roti/Chapati dough. Let the dough rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Knead the dough again, divide the dough into 4 equal size portion . Take one portion of dough, knead for a minute then roll in your palm to make a round ball shape.
  4. Flatten it with your palm & start rolling with a rolling pin. Roll the dough into a very thin sheet. Don't worry if it tears in between while rolling. Roll it as thin as possible.
  5. Melt butter to luke warm in a small bowl & mix with all purpose flour. Apply this mixture on rolled thin sheet.
  6. Once the mixture is applied all over, slice thinly all the surface of paratha. Then start scraping the dough from one side until it finishes resulting in long cylindrical stretched dough.
  7. Take the dough in fingers & roll it to a ball
  8. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
  9. Press the rolled dough with the heels of your palm to give it a round flat shape.
  10. Place a tawa (skillet) on medium heat. Place paratha on hot tawa. Cook it on both sides & smear ghee on both sides while cooking. Cook till brown spots appear on both sides.
  11. Once the paratha is cooked, smash it using your hands to separate the layers.

 

American Q’s Bourbon + Bacon Hot Chocolate

Submitted by Hazel Morgan
Serves 1

American Q's Bourbon + Bacon Hot ChocolateEditor’s Note: This recipe has also appeared elsewhere but is being shared with permission.

5.0 from 1 reviews
American Q's Bourbon + Bacon Hot Chocolate
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Cocktails
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • ¼ c.cocoa powder
  • ½ c. sugar
  • ⅓ c. water
  • 2 c. milk
  • 2 c. heavy cream
  • 3 oz. bacon fat
  • 4 oz. bourbon
  • 4 pcs. American Q Swine Candy
  • Whipped cream for garnish
Instructions
  1. Heat all ingredients except for bourbon & bacon fat in a saucepan, do not boil.
  2. Whisk until incorporated.
  3. Once mixed well, remove from heat & whisk in bacon fat until frothy. Add bourbon.
  4. Serve in mugs with a dollop of whipped cream, crumbled swine candy, & a garnish of ½ piece of swine candy.

Aloo Jeera

Submitted by Jayashree T. Rao
Serves 4

Aloo JeeraAsafoetida may look like a typo, but it’s a dried latex derived from roots used in middle eastern cuisine.  It’s supposed to taste similar to leeks when cooked.

4.5 from 2 reviews
Aloo Jeera
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • ½ kg. potatoes
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • ¼ tsp asafoetida
  • ½ tsp mustard
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • Salt to Taste
Instructions
  1. Take a microwave safe bowl, add oil with cumin, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
  2. Microwave for thirty seconds. Put the potato pieces into it.
  3. Microwave on 600 Watt power for five minutes. Stir in between.
  4. Add salt and mix well. Continue to microwave for another ten minutes.
  5. It gives a nice crisp look. Add chili powder and give a toss.
  6. You can again microwave for 30 seconds if you wish.

 

Candy Cane Cutie Cocktail

Submitted by Trisha Lyn Fawver
Serves 1

Candy Cane Cutie CocktailTrisha says: I was sitting here at my in-laws in the wee morning hours of Christmas.  Everyone else in the house had already gone to bed.  I was listening to Christmas carols and doing my nails and decided I didn’t want to have more caffeine.  So the natural alternative is a cocktail, right?  Enjoy my quick original concoction, the Candy Cane Cutie.

Candy Cane Cutie Cocktail
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Cocktail
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 2 parts Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur
  • 1 part Half & Half
  • 1 Peppermint Stick
  • Ice
  • Whipped Cream (optional)
Instructions
  1. Add ice to an old fashioned glass (you can skip this step if both your beverages are already cold)
  2. Add 2 parts Irish Cream Liqueur to the glass
  3. Add 1 part half & half
  4. Stir with the peppermint stick or candy cane and leave for 2-3 minutes for the candy to dissolve a bit. Stir again.
  5. Top with a dollop of whipped cream (optional) & enjoy!

Three Apps for Chocolate Lovers

ChocolatesGuest Post by Ashley Cranston

Chocolates are often associated with love and happiness. That’s because chocolate contains a chemical called phenethylamine, which is the same substance that the body releases when a person falls in love. Chocolates also contain dopamine, which is a natural painkiller, and serotonin that helps the body release chemicals associated with feelings of pleasure.

Thanks to the digital age, mobile apps were developed to help people find various kinds of chocolates. There are even companies that give away chocolates to users who would participate in gimmicks. One time, Shopmium offered free Lindt chocolate samples to its newly-registered users. Conversely, mobile gaming hub Pocket Fruity gave chocolate prizes to users during its Valentine’s Day and Christmas promos. With literally hundreds of chocolate-related apps to download, people would never run miss out on cool promos, free samples, or new products created by their favorite chocolate brands!

iChocolate  (iOS, $0.99)

iChocolate is a recipe recipe app that not only offers chocolate desserts but savory chocolate main dishes as well. It also provides vital tips on how to cook chocolate perfectly, and a built-in ingredient conversion measurement chart.

World Chocolate Guide (iOS, Android, Free)

The World Chocolate Guide lets users find the best chocolates shops near them, and around the world. Users can also filter their search by shop features like if a shop sells cakes, pastries, or hot chocolate. It also features detailed description of each shop, photo galleries, and customer ratings.

The Chocolate App (Android, Free)

This app is developed by Philadelphia Candies, a company that has been manufacturing the finest milk and dark chocolates since 1919. In it, users can browse the company’s finest selections of boxed chocolates, specialty chocolates, and gifts for every occasion. Users can even order through their Android-powered smartphone, and checkout with PayPal. The Chocolate App ships to customers all over the world.

Ashley is a self-confessed foodie. She loves trying out new restaurants and admits that she doesn’t go out of the house without a snack or two in her bag. She loves watching the food channel and feeding new dishes to her two little boys.