Cook Without Book

Yield:  Serves 6 (serving size: 1 slice cauliflower and about 2 tablespoons sauce)                Ingredients 1  (3-pound) head cauliflower, trimmed Cooking spray 1/4 teaspoon   kosher salt 1 tablespoon   all-purpose flour 3/4 cup   2% reduced-fat milk 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1 1/2 ounces   Gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1/3 cup) 2 tablespoons   sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (optional) 2 tablespoons   coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 425°. 2. Place cauliflower on a large cutting board, stalk end down; cut lengthwise into 6 planks (about 1 inch thick). 3. Place cauliflower on a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray. (You will have long cross sections as well as florets.) Spray cauliflower with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until cauliflower is tender and browned, turning after 15 minutes. Remove cauliflower to a servi...

Prep Time:  45 minutes Cook Time:  1 hour, 35 minutes Yield:  Makes 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)                  Ingredients Cake: Cooking spray 1 cup   sliced almonds 1/4 cup   all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon   sugar 3 tablespoons   unsalted butter, melted 3  (8-ounce) blocks 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 1  (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk 2 tablespoons   amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur) 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 3  large eggs, at room temperature Brittle: 3/4 cup   sliced almonds 1 cup   sugar 2 tablespoons   water Dash of salt Preparation 1. Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; set aside. 2. To make cake crust: Place almonds, flour, and sugar in a food processor; process until nuts are finely ground. Add butter; pulse until combined....

Prep Time:  45 minutes Cook Time:  45 minutes Yield:  Makes 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)              Ingredients Cake: Cooking spray 3 cups   all-purpose flour 2 cups   sugar 2/3 cup   sifted natural unsweetened cocoa powder 2 teaspoons   baking soda 3/4 teaspoon   salt 1 1/2 cups   brewed coffee, at room temperature 2/3 cup   canola oil 2  large egg whites 2 tablespoons   apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons   vanilla extract Frosting: 3  large egg whites 1 1/2 cups   sugar 1/4 teaspoon   cream of tartar Dash of salt 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract Preparation 1. Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Coat 2 (9- x 1 1/2 -inch) round cake pans with cooking spray. Cover bottoms of pans with parchment paper. Coat parchment with cooking spray; set aside. 2. To make cake: Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in...

                                 Ingredients Cake: Baking spray with flour 2 3/4 cups   all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons   baking powder 1 teaspoon   kosher salt 1/3 cup   unsweetened cocoa powder 10 tablespoon   unsalted butter (at room temperature) 2 cups   granulated sugar 3  large eggs 3/4 cup   fat-free sour cream (at room temperature) 3/4 cup   strong freshly brewed coffee Sugared coffee beans: 3 tablespoons   superfine sugar 1 tablespoon   honey 12  whole coffee beans Glaze: 1 cup   powdered sugar, sifted 2 tablespoons   espresso powder combined with 3 tablespoons boiling water 1 tablespoon   coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlúa), optional Preparation 1. Heat oven to 350° with rack in the center. Lightly coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with baking spray; set aside. 2. To make cake: Combine ...

Pepperoni Pizza Pocket Prep 20 min Cook 30 min Yield: 4 servings Level: Easy Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing 1/2 small onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon sugar Salt and freshly cracked black pepper 4 to 6 leaves fresh basil, torn All-purpose flour, for dusting 1 pound pizza dough, divided into 4 balls 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella 12 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced Grated Parmesan, to taste Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add in the tomato paste and saute for 1 more minute. Stir in the diced tomatoes, sugar and season with salt and pepper. Add the torn basil leaves and bring to a slow simmer. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes while you make your pizza pocket. Roll out the dough b...

Chocolate Cake with Pomegrenate Seeds Serves 4 2 cups all purpose flour 2 cups sugar 3/4 cup good quality cocoa 2 tablespoons baking soda 2 medium eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup boiling water 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar 1/4 cup fresh pomegrenate seeds Preheat Oven to 325° F  Lightly grease a heart shape baking dish and lightly dust it with flour. Place all the ingredients except for confectioners sugar and pomegrenate in a medium bowl and mix at medium or medium high speed until all ingredients are blended and smooth. Pour into greased and floured baking dish and bake for upto 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Test by sticking a tooth pick in middle of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. Let it cool for an hour. Dust it with confectioners sugar and garnish it with pomegrenate seeds.

Chocolate Brownies with Chunky Peanut Butter Serves 4 2/3 cup all purpose flour, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting the pan 1/2 teaspoon baking powder pinch of salt 1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus 1 tablespoons for greasing the pan 2 ounces  semi-sweetened chocolate 1 cup sugar 2 medium eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 4 tablespoons chunky peanut butter Preheat the oven to  350 °  F. Into a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the help of an elder and using a double boiler, melt butter and chocolate. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add sugar to eggs a little at a time, beating well. Very slowly add the butter- chocolate mixture to it, little at a time. Stir in flour mixture, blending well. Stir in vanilla and peanut butter. With the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, grease a 8-inch square pan and lightly flour it with reserved flour. Evenly spread...

Halloween Cookies Makes about 40 cookies For Royal Icing 3 ounces pasteurized egg whites 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract 4 cups confectioners' sugar For Cookies 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon good quality vanilla extract 1/4 cup molasses Good quality food color In large bowl of stand mixer combine the egg whites and vanilla and beat until frothy. Add confectioners' sugar gradually and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny. Turn speed up to high and beat until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add food coloring as per requrement. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. In the bowl of an ele...

Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting and Raspberries Serves 4 For the Frosting 1 3/4 cups cups confectioners sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon milk For the Cupcakes 1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder 1 cup boiling water 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder pinch of salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 cup fresh raspberries In the large mixing combine 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla using an electric mixer. Add milk and continue mixing until well combined. Use a spatula to scrape the mixture from the sides of the bowl. With the mixer running, slowly add remaining 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, mixing until well combined. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line 16 muffin cups with paper li...

Chocolate Chip Cookies Prep: 15 mins Cooking: 9 mins Level: Easy Cooling: 15 mins Yields: 60 This famous classic American cookie is a treat no matter what the age or occasion. Enjoy it with a glass of cold milk. Ingredients 2 1/4  cups all-purpose flour 1  teaspoon baking soda 1  teaspoon salt 1  cup  (2 sticks)  butter, softened 3/4  cup granulated sugar 3/4  cup packed brown sugar 1  teaspoon vanilla extract 2  large eggs 2  cups  (12-oz. pkg.)   Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1  cup chopped nuts Directions PREHEAT  oven to 375° F. COMBINE  flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. BAKE  for 9 ...

Small, crisp, golden puri, stuffed with a dry, spiced filling is how I’d describe a Kachori that has its origins in Rajasthan. Makes for an addictive tea time snack or appetizer. There are different fillings that go into Kachori making and today its Khasta Kachori that calls for a lentil filling. I tried to re-create this street food at home and am quite happy with the outcome, both texture and flavor wise. Like most chaats, Kachori chaat combines a variety of textures and tastes, balancing sweetness with spice and tang. Deeply satisfying!              Khasta Kachori Recipe Prep & Cooking: 1 hr 15 mins Makes approx 8-10 Kachoris . Ingredients: 1 cup maida (all-purpose flour) 1 tbsp rice flour 2 tbsps oil enough cold water to knead the maida salt to taste oil for deep frying For the filling: 1/4 cup yellow moong dal, soak for 3 hrs, drain, lightly dry and coarsely ground 1/4 cup urad dal, soak for 3 hrs, drain, ligh...