Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Orange butter cookies

I prepared these orange cookies for Christmas. I had some remainder raisin soaked orange juice while preparing the fruit cake and also some orange peels. I thought of bringing out a new kind of Christmasy cookie with my Shrewsbury butter biscuit recipe. I prepared it in round shape for Christmas. Then on Christmas morning I found this beautiful 101 cookie cutter set under our Christmas tree, which I was admiring for a long time. I am so surprised and happy to see hubby dear presenting me this, which I wished secretly. I couldn't control my eager to try new cookies and gladly prepared another batch for hubby and his friend.

Orange butter cookies for Christmas.

Xav presented me this beautiful wilton 101 cookie cutter set for Christmas.

Flower cookies.


Star cookies.

Star cookies for New year.

My version of Orange Shrewsbury biscuit / cookie:
This is an eggless cookie.

Ingredients:
Butter - 1 stick (8 tbsp)
Icing sugar - 1/2 cup
baking powder - 1/4 tsp
Ap flour - 1 1/4 cup
salt - a pinch
orange juice - 2 tbsp
(Orange juice concentrate can also be used)
orange peel powder - 1 tsp
orange food color - 2 pinch
candied orange peel - 3 tbsp
dry ginger powder - 1 tsp

Method:
Preheat the oven to 350 degree C.
Mix butter and sugar in mixing bowl to get a creamy texture.
Sift together salt,baking powder, orange peel, ginger powder and flour.
Add everything together, knead and make a dough like chapathi dough.
Make a soft dough.The dough should be slightly sticky on your finger.
(adjust flour and sugar to get the dough consistency). Add few tsp powdered sugar if needed.
Keep in refrigerator for 15 minutes to make it easy to roll.
Place between wax paper and roll into 1/2 inch thick sheet and cut into desired shape.
Place an aluminium foil / parchment paper on a cookie tray. Arrange them on the baking tray and bake for just 6 to 8 minutes in 350 deg C.
Remove the biscuit once it starts leaving the tray. It will be soft while hot, then gets the correct rigidity after cooling.
Let it cool completely and store in air tight container.
Orange Butter biscuit is ready!

Note:
Makes 20 round or 35 (2 inch) small star cookies approximately.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Semiya Kesari

Kesari - an Indian fudge. Semiya / vermicelli - a kind of noodles / pasta.

Kesari is a dessert prepared along with breakfast during Indian festivals. The most common kesari is sooji or rava kesari, while there are some variations too.

Some years ago,  while buying a vermicelli pack I got a complimentary booklet with numerous recipes using semiya. Though it is a very small pamphlet to promote their product, all their recipes were accurate and it inspired me to collect cookbooks from that day. Here is one dish from my knowledge bank:)


Ingredients:
Semiya - 1 cup
(I used 200 gm MTR vermicelli)
sugar - 1.5 cup
water - 2.5 cup
ghee - 3 tbsp
cashew - 10
raisin - 10
cardamom - 4
orange(Kesari) food color - a small pinch

Method:
Gently crush the semiya into small bits.

Heat 1 tbsp ghee and fry the cashews till it gets golden color. Keep aside.
Then put the raisin and wait till it puffs up. Take out.

Add 2 tbsp ghee and roast the semiya till it turns golden.
Take the semiya and keep aside.

In the same pan bring the water to boil and add orange food color powder.
Add the vermicelli and reduce flame. Cook covered till it is completely done.
Add the sugar and wait till the water evaporates.
Now put the fried nuts, raisin, powdered cardamom and stir gently without mashing.
Switch off once it starts leaving the pan.

Semiya kesari is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve warm as dessert.
It can be served along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream too

Tips:
Substitute for orange food color - juice of carrot.

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