Classic Butter Roasted Chicken with Herbs and Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

* 1 whole 4 1/2-to-5-pound chicken
* 6 whole rosemary sprigs, plus more for garnish
* 1 pound (about 8 to 10) baby new potatoes
* 12 baby carrots, lightly peeled or scrubbed
* 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick), melted
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
* 1 whole lemon, 2 holes poked through the skin
* 4 parsnips, peeled and halved lengthwise
* 1 cup chicken broth
* 1 bunch parsley, cleaned, for garnish

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Remove the giblets and neck from the chicken. Rinse the chicken inside and out with cold running water; drain and pat dry with paper towels. Chop enough rosemary to make 2 tablespoons (about 3 sprigs). In a large bowl, combine the chicken, potatoes and carrots. Add the butter, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper. Toss well.

Place the whole lemon and 3 rosemary sprigs inside the cavity of the bird. With kitchen string, tie the legs together.

Put the potatoes, carrots and parsnips on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch roasting pan. Place the chicken right on top of the vegetables. (This will both flavor the vegetables and act as a rack for the chicken.) Roast for 20 minutes in the oven. Add half of the chicken broth to the pan and baste the chicken with the juices from the pan. Continue roasting, basting 1 or 2 more times using the additional broth. The chicken is done when the temperature on a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 175 to 180 degrees F and the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with the tip of a knife, about 80 minutes. The vegetables should be very tender and give easily when a fork is inserted into them. Remove the pan from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before carving the chicken.

Place the chicken to one side of a platter and arrange the vegetables on the other. Tuck a small bunch of parsley between the chicken legs and arrange the remaining parsley over the vegetables in single sprigs. Pull some of the parsnips from the bottom and lay them on an angle on top of the vegetables. Carving at the table is required, so have a cutting board on the table alongside the platter, and, if needed, remove the chicken to the cutting board to carve.

Meatball Hero Sandwiches

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

* 2 pounds lean ground beef
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
* 2 jars (1 pound 10 ounces each) Ragu Old World Style Pasta Sauce
* 8 Italian rolls (about 6 inches long each), halved lengthwise
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs and bread crumbs; shape into 24 meatballs.

In a 6-quart saucepan, bring the pasta sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Gently stir in the meatballs. Reduce the heat to low and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are done. Serve the meatballs and sauce in the rolls, topped with cheese.

Indian Cheese - Paneer & Channa Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1 1 1/2 Quarts milk
1 1/2 cup Cultured buttermilk

DIRECTIONS:

Pour milk into a heavy 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

Reduce heat to medium and stir in buttermilk. When the curds form a mass (you’ll see a clear, pale-yellow whey surrounding the curds), remove pan from heat, Let stand, partially covered, for 10 minutes.

Line a colander with a double layer of dampened cheesecloth. Set the colander in the sink or in a bowl if you wish to save the whey (see note). Gently pour the curds and whey into the cheesecloth. Gather together the corners of the cloth, give one or two twists, and tie with a kitchen twine. Hang the cheesecloth bag over the faucet and let the cheese drain for 1 hour, or until it is as thick as yogurt (this is channa).

If the weather is warm, leave the cheesecloth bag in the colander, set the colander on a plate to catch the drippings, and refrigerate until the cheese has thickened.

Unwrap the channa and use immediately, or cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Save the whey for making your next batch of paneer, use it for cooking lentils or pilafs, or add it to soups.

Paneer cheese: Snugly wrap cheesecloth around the channa to form a “cake.” Place on a cookie sheet, place another cookie sheet on top and add weights (for example, 2 or 3 large cans of tomatoes, 2 or 3 bricks, a large pitcher of water). Let the cheese sit for 2 to 4 hours. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Asparagus and Chicken Soup (Asparagus aur Murghi Soup)

Ingredients: chicken stock 3 cups dough 50 g cream 1 cup salt & pepper pinch boiled chicken 50gdiced asparagus

Method: Make a cream soup by heating chicken stock and adding roux. Add all the cream, leaving 2 tsp for garnishing & cook to a thick consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Dice boiled chicken to small cubes and put into soup. Cut asparagus into small pieces & blend into soup. Pour into soup bowl & garnish with cream.

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 5 medium sweet potatoes (10 oz. each)
• 1/2 cup cranberry relish
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, snipped or chopped
• 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Scrub sweet potatoes and pierce all over with fork. Place on oven rack. Bake for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until tender. Set aside to cool slightly.

2. Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop pulp from each potato half, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch shell. Place pulp in medium bowl. Set aside shells.

3. Using a potato masher or fork, mash potato pulp until smooth. Stir in relish, cranberries, butter, and salt. Spoon potato mixture into each potato shell. Place, filled sides up, in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with walnuts.

4. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Makes 10 servings.

Sponge cake - Christmas special

Maida --125 Gms

Sugar ---125 Gms

Vanilla essence ---1 teaspoon

Baking powder ---1 teaspoon

Eggs ------ 5

Beat eggs and powdered sugar together, till it is stiff. Mix Maida, sieved 3-4 times with baking powder. Add vanilla essence. Transfer into a greased baking tray. Bake at 180 C for 20-25 minutes.

Chicken Drumsticks with Tomato and Mushroom

Cuisine: Italian
Course Type: Main Dish
Recipe Type: Poultry, Baked
Serves: 6-8 persons
Preparation time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
15 pieces (11/2 kg) chicken drumsticks
1 medium onion, diced
200g fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup black olives, pitted
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. hot chili powder
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
2 cubes MAGGI Chicken Stock
1 sachet MAGGI Secrets Bolognaise Mix
2 1/2 cups (625ml) water

Preparation:


Heat oil in a pot and fry chicken until golden brown. Remove and place on an oven tray.
In the same pot, fry the onions, mushrooms and garlic for 6 minutes.
Add tomatoes, olives, oregano, basil, black pepper, hot chili, cardamom, MAGGI Chicken Stock, MAGGI Secrets Bolognaise Mix and water.
Bring to boil and then simmer on low heat for 6 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the chicken drumsticks and cover.
Bake in oven for 25 minutes at 180¼C, or until chicken is well cooked.
Serving tip: Serve with cooked pasta, or cooked rice with vermicelli.