Grape Wine

Grape wine is a popular wine around the world.It is one of the tasty wine.A Christmas is not completed without the traditional wine.This is one of the simple wine recipe which can easily prepare at home with less ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Grapes-1kg, black or purple(with seed or seedless)
• Sugar-750g
• Wheat kernels-a handful(crushed)
• Yeast-2tsp(I used DCL active dry yeast)
• Egg white-from one egg,beaten
• Cinnamon stick-2 pieces
• Cloves-7-9 nos
• Water-500ml(boiled and cooled completely)

Directions:

• Get an earthenware,Bharani or glass jar/ceramic jar thoroughly washed and dried.
• Wash the grapes well and separate grapes from its stalks and pat dry well.Crush the grapes with your clean  hands.
• Add all the other ingredients along with crushed grapes to the Bharani or glass jar and close with the lid.Place a large piece of cloth on top of the lid and tie it airtight.Store it in a dark place.
• For the next 14 days,open the Bharani or big glass jar/container everyday and stir well with a wooden spoon.Try to do it at the same time everyday.
• On the 14th day,strain the grape mixture using a strainer or a muslin cloth and transfer the liquid to another glass jar/Bharani.You will notice sediments at the bottom of the jar after 2-3 days.Strain this again using a strainer and pour it into clean dry dark wine bottles or glass bottles.Keep it for another 2-3 weeks. 
• As the days go by you might notice some sediments at the bottom of the bottle too.So while pouring be careful not to disturb the clouded sediments settled at the bottom.

NOTES:

• Always use the best grapes for making wine...Do not use over ripe or under ripe grapes...There should not be any water on it or the wine will become sour.
• The color of the wine depends a lot on the grapes you use.Please keep in mind that it is the skin of the grapes that decides the color of the wine.
• Use a big Bharani or an airtight glass jar that can hold at least more than twice the quantity of water.
• It is advisable to use a new wooden spoon for stirring the wine.Stir at least 3-5 minutes daily.
• Use good quality Yeast in the wine.

APPLE JAM /HOMEMADE APPLE JAM WITHOUT PECTIN

Jams are usually made from pulp from one fruit or combination  of several fruits.There are different varieties of jams available in market like strawberry jam,apricot  jam,mixed fruit jam,peach jam,plum jam,apple jam etc.Today I am sharing homemade apple jam recipe. l love making home made jams because it taste so fresh.I have not used any preservatives so its healthy for your kids.Let us start with the recipe..

Apple Jam

Preparation time:10 minutes
Cooking time:30-35 minutes5

INGREDIENTS:

• Apples  -500gms
• sugar  -2 cup
• Water -1/2 cup
• Cinnamon-1 inch piece 
• Salt-1/4 tsp
• Lemon Juice -1 tsp

APPLE JAM

METHOD:  

• Wash, peel and cut the apples into small pieces.
• In a heavy bottomed pan,put the apple pieces along with water and cinnamon.Cover it and bring it to a boil.Now simmer the heat till the apples are completely cooked through.
• Once it comes into boil add sugar and salt.Stir well.Boil till the apple pieces turn soft.Mash them properly with a masher.You can mash it completely or leave it chunky.
• Keep stirring to prevent jam from sticking to the pan's base.Cook on a medium heat.
• Switch off the flame.Cook till it gets thick and leaves the sides of the pan.It will take around 20 minutes.
• Switch off the flame and add lemon juice into this.Mix well. 
• Let it cool and transfer this to a dry air tight glass bottle.

  

  COOKED JAM IN A PAN

  NOTE:

1. Use clean,dry air tight glass bottles to store this jam.
2. No need to mash the pieces completely.You can leave it chunky also.
3. Always use dry and clean spoons while handling this.This keeps well for a week when stored in clean dry shelf.If you want to store for longer period of time,store this in Refrigerator.I recommend you to store in Refrigerator always. 

Happy Cooking!!!

Paneer Capsicum Pulao /Indian Cottage Cheese&Bell Pepper Rice

Today I am sharing an easy to prepare Rice dish,Paneer bell pepper pulao.Paneer capsicum rice/pulao is one of the best healthy,easy to prepare rice recipes and can be served with various accompaniments and Indian curries.

It is a quick nutritious rice dish flavored with delicated spiced,paneer and capsicum.
This tomato-based paneer capsicum pulao is a toothsome treat that will delight your family and friends!

PANEER CAPSICUM RICE/PULAO

Course:Main course

Yield :4 servings

Preparation Time:10minutes

Cooking Time:20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes 

 

 INGREDIENTS:  

• Basmati rice -1 Cup
• Capsicum  -1 no (medium size)
• Paneer cubes- 1cup
• Carrot  -1 no
• Onion  -1 no
• Green Chilies-2 nos
• Ginger-Garlic paste-1 tsp   
• Tomato  -1 no  
• Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
• Cloves - 3nos 
• Bay leaf -1
• Cardamom  -4nos
• Black Pepper- 1tsp
• Shah Jeera-1/2tsp(optional)
• Salt  - to taste
• Water -2 cups
• Oil/ghee -1 tbsp    
• Coriander leaves,chopped (optional)-2 tsp

 

CAPSICUM PANEER RICE/PULAO

 METHOD:    

1.  Wash and soak the rice for at least for 30 minutes.Drain it well in a colander.
2. Cut the capsicum into medium sized cubes.
3. Soak the paneer cubes in hot water with a pinch of salt for minimum 15 minutes.
4. Add ghee/oil in a pan,add well drained rice and saute until it becomes dry.While roasting,be gentle otherwise it may break. 
5. Heat oil/ghee in a pan,add cinnamon,cardamom,cloves bay leaf,shah jeera and saute for 1 minute or until fragrant.
6. Add finely chopped onion and saute until translucent,without changing its color.
7. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until the raw ginger smell goes off.Add chopped tomato and fry till it becomes soft.
8. Add finely chopped carrots along with green chilies.Fry till carrots are half done.Add crushed black pepper and mix it well.Add 2 cups of water,required salt and bring it to a boil. 
9. Add the roasted rice bring it to a boil.Close the lid and cook in a low flame for few minutes.
10. Mean while shallow fry the paneer cubes preferably in a nonstick pan in a medium flame until golden color and immerse them in hot water until use.Drain the  water and keep aside.
11. Heat oil in a pan,add diced capsicum/bell pepper and saute for 2-3 minutes.Keep aside.
12. Add paneer cubes and capsicum cubes to the rice and veggies mix,cover and cook for another 2-3minutes.
13. Make sure that bell peppers are not over cooked.I like crunchy peppers than mushy ones.Once the bell peppers/capsicums are added,don't cook more than 2-3minutes.
14. Taste the rice and adjust seasoning accordingly.Sprinkle coriander leaves/cilantro and serve hot.

  NOTES:

• Roasting rice ensures separate grains.
• You can replace whole slit green chilies with red chili powder
• Soaking the paneer cubes in hot water ensures  its softness even when cooled down.If not frying the paneer just dip them in hot water for5-10 minutes and drain the water before cooking.
• While shallow frying paneer,make sure that you use a nonstick pan and fry it in a medium flame until golden color.
• Add some ghee fried cashew nuts along with paneer.If you like sweet touch,add ghee fried raisins also.   

PANEER CAPSICUM RICE

Serve warm along with a spicy or rich accompaniment,any kind of Raita,pickle and papad.....

Enjoy the Dish.....

Happy Cooking!!!!!

LOTUS