Amazing Blueberry Muffins

We had some friends over for brunch the other day and I made these delish muffins.. enjoy!

Makes 16

Ingredients
* 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
* 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 8 ounces (about 1 cup) sour cream
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 half-pints fresh blueberries

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place 16 paper liners in muffin pans.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, sour cream, and milk. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed add the flour mixture to the batter and beat until just mixed. Fold in the blueberries with a spatula and be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each cup just over the top, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the muffins are lightly browned on top and a cake tester comes out clean.

2009 Favourites Kitchen Gadgets

I thought I would also post some of my favorite kitchen gadgets of the year. I'm pretty certain that all these lovely things did not enter my life until 2008-9, but I am so glad they did.

• Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer.

Lady and I do not go back very far, but we're sure to be good friends. I using her a whole lot, almost everyday and i'm falling in love.

Meet Lady Mix-a-Lot. (Not me... the mixer.. lol )

• Bar Keepers Friend. Though it definitely takes some elbow grease to get things off, this stuff is great for making your stainless steel pots and pans look (almost) new again.
  
• Grater/zester. How did I ever live without one of these things? Zesting citrus, grating nutmeg and ginger, and making really fluffy grated cheese, this does it all.
• Cast iron Casserole. These are definitely not the biggest bargains of the cooking world. Like me if u manage to find a great deal & a great product it will last you a lifetime (and probably 3 or 4 lifetimes after your own). Great for tortillas, cornbread, even brownies & makhani dals & delish biryanis.
• A baking stone. Homemade pizza without one of these is great, but with one? Amazing. So crisp and delicious. Also great for breads, and if you get certain types, cookies.
• Mesh strainers in different sizes. So great for straining sauces, chicken stock, jams, etc. I cant believe that at one point I used a tiny little tea strainer for some of of these things.
  

So, there you have it. A few things that make cooking a little more fun (and a whole lot easier) for me.

I have my eye on: Victorinox Chef's Knife & a glass pitcher

Tandoori Chicken / Paneer

Just made some Chicken Tikka, thought I would share the recipe

Now this marinade you can use to make Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka, or Paneer Tikka.

I am just listing the ingredients you can adjust quantity according to your taste.










- Paneer / Chicken
- Salt
- Ginger & garlic paste
- Tumeric
- Corriander Pwd (Dhaniya)
- Garam Masala
- Chilli Pwd
- Yoghurt
- Fresh Coriander
- Lemon Juice
- To this mixture you can add any of your fav chili sauces eg: nandos peri peri sauce ;)

Let it marinade for at least 1 hour - 6hours
If you are making Chicken / paneer tikka, you can put the Chicken/Paneer on skewers with onion, green peppers & tomatoes in between.
Cook in the oven at 350 Fahrenheit for 45mins. Let it get a little brown around the edges.
Sprinkle Chaat Masala and eat.. Yumm yumm

Basic vanilla cupcake - Soo good!

I am using this blog to share the recipes that I am trying out..

I just made these cupcakes.. and they were soo good I just had to write about it.





Serves: 12 (1 serving= one medium-sized cupcake)
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Method:
Preheat oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Blend the eggs, milk, oil, and sugar.
Add the vanilla.
Add the flour half a cup at a time.
Add the baking powder.
(If you're using them, stir in the chocolate chips with a spoon)

Line cupcake tin with paper baking cups or grease and flour each separate compartment. Fill tins about 3/4 full with the cupcake batter. bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Enjoy!