Jamun Cups

Last week we had a get together at a friend's place , I had to make something fancy for a dessert at a short notice, so I came up with Jamun cups for dessert.The crunchiness of the almonds and Phillo shells combined with the softness of the jamun and the cream opens up a wonderful play of textures.
I am posting this recipe for the Original Recipes - Monthly event by Culinarty.
Ingredients:
8 Nos Gulab Jamun
1 Pack Mini Phillo pastry cups
Whipped Cream
1/4 cup Almond slivers
Method:
Drain the gulab jamun from the sugar syrup, cut each one into half and set aside.
Toast the almond slivers and crush it lightly.
Pre- heat oven to 350 Degrees.
Place the Mini phillo pastry cups in a baking sheet and place in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
Remove the phillo shells and place it in a platter and top it with the cut Gulabjamun.
Put some whipped cream on top of the Gulab jamun and sprinkle with the crushed almond slivers.

Vegetable Puff Cups

Last week we had a get together at our house.I wanted to make an appetizer that is quick and a crowd-pleaser, so I decided on these puff cups .These cups are very elegant to serve for single portions. Instead of the ever present potato filling I made a vegetable filling. It was a huge hit with our friends.
Ingredients:
1 Small pack of mixed frozen vegetables (peas,corn,beans, carrot)
1 Pack Puff pastry shells
1 large Onion (chopped)
2 Nos Ripe Tomatoes (chopped)
1 Tbsp Cumin seeds
1/4 Tbsp Ginger /Garlic paste
2 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp Red chilly powder
Salt to taste.
Method:
Remove the pastry shells from the freezer and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.Place the shells with the lids facing upwards.
Set the timer for 20-25 minutes or until crisp.
Heat oil in a kadai and add the cumin seeds.
When the cumin seeds pop add the chopped onion and ginger/garlic paste and saute.
When the onion is tender add tomato , red chily powder, salt a little water and cook covered for a minute.
Now add the frozen vegetable mixture and continue cooking covered, till the vegetables are tender. (Keep stirring in between and add water if necessary.)
When the Pastry shells are done remove the lids using a fork.
Fill the shells with the prepared vegetable mixture and cover with the removed lids.
Serve immediately. The shells can be re heated by placing in the oven for 2 - 3 minutes at 350ºF.

Home Made Pizza (Pepper Pizza)

My family loves pizza, but when we order pizza from outside there's just so much cheese. So no matter what pizza you order it ends up being a cheese pizza. So we started to make home made pizza( well actually semi home made pizza- sinceI buy the base and the pizza sauce in the super market.)

Ingredients:
1 Pizza base (big one)
5-6 Tsp Pizza sauce
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese ( shredded)
1 Red onion (chopped)
5 Tsp olives
5 Tsp Jalapeño peppers (slices) (both fresh and pickled ones can be used)
1/4 cup Red & Green peppers (chopped)
2-3 Pickled yellow chilly peppers ( halved )
2 tsp red chilly flakes.

Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 450 deg.
Apply the pizza sauce on the base.( I usually use Mids brand sauce)
spread all the vegetables in an un greased sheet an keep in the oven for 10 minutes or till the veggies are golden brown.
Now spread all the veggies on to the pizza base and , sprinkle the cheese on top of the veggies.
Bake the pizza in the over for 8 - 10 minutes.
Add the red chilly flakes before serving.

This pizza is very spicy. You can also add Paneer and any vegetable of your choice.