Chettinad Pepper chicken Masala

Chettinad Pepper Chicken Masala is a quick, spicy & aromatic chicken gravy. This gravy is peppery and flavorful which is a treat for spice lovers.
Marinated chicken pieces with dry spices is cooked in onion-tomato and curd gravy seasoned with dry spices and lots of pepper powder. It makes a great combination with parotta, chapati, roti, steamed rice and mildly flavored rice such as Jeera Rice.

Ingredients :

• Chicken - 300 gms
• Onion - 2
• Tomato -2
• Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
• Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
• Pepper Powder -  1/2 tsp + 1 tsp
• Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Thick Youghurt - 1/4 cup
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 4 tbsp
• Coriander Leaves for garnishing.
• For Marination :
• Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
• Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
• Lemon juice - 2 tbsp or juice of 1 lemon
• Salt to taste
• For Tempering :
• Cumin (Jeera) - 1/2 tsp
• Saunf -1/4 tsp
• Clove - 2
• Cinnamon - 1/2 " piece
• Mustard - 1/4 tsp 

Method :

• Marinate the cleaned chicken pieces with ingredients listed under for marination for 30 mins.

•  In a pan heat oil. Temper with ingredients listed under tempering. When it splutters add finely chopped onions. Saute till golden brown. Add ginger-galic paste, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder and 1/2 tsp pepper powder. Saute till raw smell of ginger-garlic goes away.

• Add chopped tomatoes and saute till it becomes soft. Add 1/2 cup water and cook with lid for 6-7 mins or till oil separates. Stir in between.

• Add marinated chicken pieces and saute it well. Add required amount of salt. Remember we had added salt even to the chicken pieces. Add thick curd and mix well. Cover with lid and let chicken cook on medium flame for 10 to 15 mins. Keep stirring once in a while so that masala don't stick to bottom.

• When the chicken is cooked adjust for salt. Add garam masala powder and 1 tbsp pepper powder or freshly crushed pepper. Mix well and sprinkle coriander leaves. Switch off the flame.

•  Chettinad Pepper Chicken Masala is ready to be served hot with chapathi, parotta, roti or steamed rice.

Chicken Sandwich

This is a instant and easy recipe with only few ingredients. Chicken pieces are boiled until tender, shredded and sauted with onion, capsicum, tomato and spices. Stuffed inside bread slices with your favourite sauce and cheese slice. You can use any chicken pieces preferably boneless and skinless. And spread sauce of your choice like tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, sandwich spread, cheese spread etc.

Ingredients :

• Chicken - 1 cup
• Bread Slice - 8
• Cheese Slice - 4
• Onion - 2 medium
• Capsicum - 1 small
• Tomato - 1 medium
• Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Tomato ketchup - 2 tbsp 

Method :

• Boil chicken pieces until tender with required amount of water. 
• Take out the chicken pieces from the stock. U can use the stock for soup.
• Shred the chicken as you remove it from the bone.
• In a pan heat oil. Add long sliced onion and saute till translucent. Add long sliced capsicum and saute for 2 minutes. Make sure capsicum is crispy & not over-cooked. 

• Add sliced tomatoes and saute till soft. Add pepper powder, salt, tomato ketchup and mix well.

• Add shredded chicken, mix well and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Filling is ready. Keep it aside.

• Heat tawa on medium flame. Place 2 bread slices and toast on one side till golden. Flip one slice and place a cheese slice(I wasnt liberal enough, tore half slice and have spread it.) on toasted side.

• Then spread prepared chicken filling. Place another slice with toasted side facing down.

• Lightly press the sandwich with the spoon and toast till golden brown on both side of the sandwich. In the same way prepare other sandwiches.

• Slice the sandwich and serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Tips & Variations :

• When cooking other chicken dishes, you can separate few boneless pieces and store them to prepare sandwich next day.
• You can add any spice powders according to your taste. Add mayonnaise to the prepared chicken filling after it cools down a bit.
• Alternatively you can grill/toast the sandwich in sandwich maker. Spread grated cheese instead of cheese slice.
• Spread mayonnaise,sandwich spread or cheese spread if you have on one slice of the bread.

Death-by-Chocolate

Death-by-chocolate is my all time favorite dessert, a perfect combination of cake and ice-cream topped with chocolate sauce and nuts. I go all the way to corner house to dig into this sinful dessert. This recipe is the replica of death-by-chocolate at corner house made with ready-to-bake chocolate cake, store bought vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce and roasted cashews. This recipe is hassle-free which is put together with store bought ingredients.

Ingredients :

• Chocolate cake slices
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Herschey's Chocolate Syrup
• Cashew Nuts

Method :

• Bake the chocolate cake from the store bought ready mix of chocolate cake following the instructions provided. U can mix in chopped walnuts/cashew-nuts to the batter before baking.
• Meanwhile chop cashew nuts and roast them till crispy. Do not use oil/ghee. U can even roast peanuts, take out the skin and crush them coarsely.
• Keep all the ingredients handy before serving.
• In a bowl, place few slices of hot chocolate cake followed by 2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream. U can warm the cake before serving.

• Top it with hot chocolate syrup. U can heat the syrup in microwave/ stove top. Finally sprinkle some nuts on the top.

• Death-by-chocolate is ready to be indulged.

Tips : Heat the cake and syrup before serving. Its a great combination of hot cake and chill ice-cream.

Thank You Note

First of all wishing you all a Happy New Year 2015.May God spread prosperity and joy in your life on this New Year and fulfill all your dreams.

Before posting my 1st recipe for the year I wanna thank few people in my life from whom I got the courage and support to start  and continue the blog. Though I am not jotting down each of their name, each one of them are remembered.

My family members especially my hubby who supported to continue my blog. My neighbors aka friends at Saudi Arabia from whom I got good response on my cooking and also who were ready to share their recipes which gives a new dimension to my blog by hosting recipes of different cuisines. All my friends who could give their valuable time to read the post, try the recipes and give their feedback, encouragement with their beautiful words. Colleagues at my hubby's office who indirectly inspired me & courage to start the blog by their valuable compliments about my cooking which I got to hear from my hubby and received directly too.

I request you all to continue your support. It means a lot to continue my blog. Once again thanking each one of you associated with my blog.