Cheese Chili Casserole

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A simple mouthwatering rich and cheesy casserole with a little kick from green chillies. Makes a great weeknight meal along with sharp tossed green salad and warm dinner rolls.

Cheese Chili Casserole

Cheese Chili Casserole You’ll Need
6 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup Butter, Melted
2 Cups Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
1 Cup Cottage Cheese
6 Tbls Cream Cheese, Chilled And Diced Into Small Pieces
1/2 Cup Mild Green Chilies, Seeds Taken Out
1/2 Cup Cornmeal
1 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt

Let’s Get Started

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 10 inch baking dish and keep aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until well blended. To the eggs, add milk, melted butter, Monterey Jack, cottage cheese, cream cheese pieces, green chilies, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Mix everything well.

Pour the egg mixture into buttered baking dish.

Bake the casserole for 35 to 45 minutes, i.e., until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is puffed and golden.

Serve hot and enjoy!

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Spicy Eggs Scramble

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HOT n’ SPICY RECIPES

A mouthwatering spicy kick to your regular scrambled eggs!

Spicy Eggs Scramble

You’ll Need
1 Tbls Oil
1 Small Onion, Finely Chopped
1 Small Tomato, Chopped
1 Tsp Minced Fresh Ginger
1 Tsp Minced Garlic
1 Finely Chopped Green Chili
1/2 Tsp Turmeric
1/2 Tsp Ground Cumin
8 Eggs
1/4 Cup Milk
Salt To Taste
Pepper To Taste
1 Tbls Cilantro, Finely Chopped

Let’s Get Started

In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat.

Saute onion for about 5 minutes or until cooked and soft. Add the chopped tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chillies, turmeric and cumin. Saute everything for about 2 to 4 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs lightly. Add milk and whisk again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Whisk in the beaten eggs and milk mixture to the pan with onion and tomato mixture. Add half of the cilantro. Keep stirring until the eggs are cooked but still a little soft.

Serve hot, sprinkled with the remaining cilantro alongwith your favorite bread.

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Ravo

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DESSERTS RECIPES

This is one of my favorite desserts. It’s usually made on special occasions.

Ravo

You’ll Need
1 Cup Semolina
1 Cup Unsalted Butter
4 Eggs
3 Cups Milk (Divided into 3 portions of 1/4 cup, 2 cups and 3/4 cup)
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Freshly Ground Cardamom
1 Tsp Saffron (mixed in with 2 Tbls warm milk)
1/4 Cup Slivered Almonds
1/4 Cup Currants
1/4 Cup Cashews, Chopped Coarsely

Let’s Get Started

In a pan, on low heat, melt the butter. Stir in semolina and fry it until it starts to bubble and the aroma starts to emerge. About 5 to 7 minutes.

In the meanwhile, in a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Mix in 1/4 cup milk with the eggs. Keep it aside.

Once the semolina and butter start bubbling and is cooked, add the mixture of milk and eggs gradually to the semolina in the pan, all the while stirring continuously to prevent any curdling.

Add the 2 cups portion of the milk into the semolina mixture and keep stirring continuously.

Mix in the sugar. Keep stirring on low heat. Add the remaining 3/4 cup portion of milk, a little at a time, as needed, to get the right consistency of choice. Add in freshly ground cardamom and saffron milk mixture. Keep stirring until the mixture is creamy starts to thicken.

Once the Ravo is cooked it starts to form into a soft ball and starts leaving butter from sides.

Fry almonds, cashews and currants in butter.

Garnish Ravo with fried dry fruits and serve. Enjoy! It’s out of this world delicious!

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Decanting Wines

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WINES

In simple terms, decanting is pouring wine into a container before serving it. However, there’s more to it than just pouring the wine into a decanter just because it looks beautiful. Wine decanters may improve the flavor characteristics and bouquets of older full-bodied red wines.

Decanting is usually for older full-bodied red wines or ports. Young full-bodied red wines can also benefit from the aeration that decanting provides.

When the wine comes in contact with oxygen, the bouquets present in the wine are released which enhances the flavors and aromas in the wine.

Of course, a wine decanter can also be used simply for aesthetic reasons. The presentation of wine in a beautiful crystal decanter adds to the ambiance of a beautifully set table and prepared dinner. There are different shapes and sizes of wine decanters.

The decanter should be a wide bottomed decanter. Wide body decanters provide more surface area for oxygen to allow aromas from the wine to be released.

Decanting is all about removing sediment from a wine, and allowing the wine to breathe. Wines have all sorts of organic things in them such as yeast, grape skins, etc. The wine naturally has very small particles of these things that, over the years that wine ages, settle out of the wine. Therefore, mostly older red wines or ports are decanted as they have much more grape skin contact because of which there’s more sediment. Such wines contain sediments that can add bitterness to the wine and the sediments can ruin the look of the wine when poured into a glass.

Before decanting a wine that contains sediment, allow the bottle to rest upright allowing any sediment to sink to the bottom. Then slowly pour the wine into the decanter keeping the bottle angled so that no sediment makes its way into the decanter. The wine may be poured through cheesecloth to assist in filtering out any unwanted particles. The trick is to pour the wine slowly into the decanter, keeping the same side down that was down during the aging process. Be sure not to let the sediment end up in the decanting glass. Sometimes in case of a bottle that’s full of sediment, such as an old port, the wine is poured into a decanter over a candle. The reason being that, it is easier to see the sediment in the bottle neck, against the bright flame of the candle, as the wine begins to slide towards the decanter opening.

Once you’ve poured all the wine, less sediment, into the decanter, you can let it sit. Well, now you’ll ask, Why would you let it sit there, exposed to air, when wine + air = bad combination? Well, here’s the fact. Yes, you do not want air getting into the wine during the years wine is aging. However, once the wine is ready to be enjoyed and that you’re about to drink it, air getting across a good surface area of a wine can actually bring out its bouquets.

You can usually let the wine sit in the decanter for 1/2 to 1 hour before you drink it. You’ll see how its flavor changes over the evening as you drink it. You’ll really enjoy it!

Of course, there’s a point at which too long of a contact with air can actually do more damage to the wine than good. If the wine is left out for too long, it warms to the your surrounding ambient room temperature. Which is what they say right? Drink red wine at room temperature? They’re right. However, when the French talked of Room Temperature in the 1800s, they meant the temperature in the 50s, i.e., at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit! However, today, in the modern times, the room temperature in our rooms is usually 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more, which is awful for the wine! Plus, mix wine and air for a long time, what do you get? Vinegar! Thus, letting your wine sit our for a long 8 hours will cause the vinegar flavors to overpower the delicate bouquets of your wine. So, you can always seal up the leftover wine and put it into your fridge and enjoy it some other time.

Enjoy responsibly!

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Choosing A Wine Glass

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WINES

Selection of a particular style of wine glass for a particular wine is quite important, as the glass shape can influence its perception.

The proper way to drink from a wine glass is to hold the wine glass by its stem and not directly the bowl. The reason being that the temperature of the wine does not get affected when holding the wine glass. This is achieved because the stem is not in direct contact with the wine. Therefore the heat from the body is not transferred to the wine.

The shape of a wine glass is very important, as it concentrates the flavor and aroma of the wine. The shape of the glass also directs the wine itself into the best area of the mouth. The stem of a glass is an important feature as well. It is the most obvious, but often most neglected, part of the wine glass. The stem provides a way to hold the glass without warming the wine from body heat. It also prevents fingerprints from smearing the glass, and makes the glass easier to swirl.

There are different styles of wine glasses.

There are different factors on which one can decide which wine glass is suitable for a particular wine. These factors can be :

The size of the glass to intensify aromas, bouquets for different wines
The shape of the glass to direct the wine to specific parts of the tongue
The shape and size to emphasize the fruitiness in the wine
The shape that keeps the champagne from going flat
The shape and size that emphasizes the tannins in the wine
The shape that help keeps the temperature of the wine cooler longer, etc.

There are many other such factors that help in deciding that perfect glass for that special wine.

Selecting the best suitable glass for your wine style is about achieving balance in bringing out the distinct characteristics of that style of wine.

There are many different types of wine glasses, of varying styles and quality. However, the three main types of wine glasses are :

White Wine Glass

This glass is shaped like a tulip with a smaller bowl and a longer stem. The longer stem allows the wine glass to be held more easily by the stem. The reason being that there is no heat transfer from the body to the wine in the glass. Holding a glass of white wine from the bowl will warm it slightly which will affect the flavor characteristics and bouquet of the wine.

The reason behind the smaller bowl in white wine glass is that, it is not necessary to expose white wine to air as it is for certain red wines. The tapered lip on the top of the bowl concentrates the aroma of white wine, which is generally more slight and nuanced than that of red wine. The lip and the bowl of the glass is designed to deliver the wine to the proper place in the mouth, which is the front.

Red Wine Glass

This is a rounded glass with a large bowl and a smaller stem. Stem on a red wine glass is shorter than white wine glass as it doesn’t matter if the red wine glass is held by the stem or the bowl. Well, again the reason being, heat transfer. When a person holds a red wine glass from the bowl, the heat from their body is transferred to the wine, which warms the wine slightly. However, the slight rise in the temperature of the red wine does not affect the flavors and the bouquets of the wine.

A larger bowl allows red wine more exposure to air. The slight taper of the lip on the top of the bowl is designed to deliver the red wine to the right parts of the mouth, those being the back and sides of the tongue.

Champagne or Sparkling Wine Flute

This is a tall and thin glass. This shape keeps the champagne or the sparkling wine from going flat. Also, it helps maintain the cool temperature of the wine.

Some Tips

* Choose clear glasses to best enjoy the color and appearance of your wine.

* Fill your wine glass only 1/3 to 1/2 full. This allows the drinker to swirl the wine and release the aroma in the wine. The air space between the wine and the mouth of the glass allows air to bring out the best in the wine’s bouquets.

Washing Wine Glasses

It sounds pretty simple enough. What could be so special about washing a wine glass? Well, the truth is, wine glasses are typically a bit pricier than your everyday milk or juice glasses. They’re delicate, too. Therefore it is necessary to be just a little more careful with them.

First and foremost, do not wash stemware in a dishwasher. This might result in a broken stem and the high heat during the drying cycle actually can bake the residue from the soap in the glass. This eventually affects the flavor characteristics and aroma of the wine.

Avoid exposing cut glass and crystal to high temperatures.

Do not use harsh soaps as even just a trace of lemon or similarly scented washing-up liquid can ruin the nose of a wine. The stemware is thin and made up of porous material which can absorb odors which will ultimately affect the flavors and bouquets of the wines.

The best way to wash your delicate stemware is to wash them one glass at a time with slightly lukewarm water and a very mild dishwashing soap. Use a soft sponge to gently clean the glass. Then rinse it well with lukewarm water. Rinse it again if necessary to get rid of any soap residue.

After rinsing, dry each glass one at a time gently, with a soft microfibre cloth or a soft dishwashing cloth. Do not place stemware upside down to dry. Always dry by hand. Once dry, a quick polish will quickly rid them of any residual water marks, which look a little unsightly but are easily removed. Store them standing upright in a clean, odour-free cupboard ready for use.

How to pour a perfect glass of wine

Still wines should be poured towards the center of the glass. Champagnes and sparkling wines should be poured against the side, like a beer, so that unwanted bubbles do not show up. To control drips, one can twist the bottle slightly while tilting it upright.

When pouring wine, the glass should be filled no more than two-thirds. This will allow guests to swirl the wine and smell the bouquet. A glass can always be refilled if desired.

Of course, serve wine to the women and older guests first, then the men and end with your own glass.

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Chocolate Spiced Tea

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BEVERAGES RECIPES

Chocolate not only goes with coffee, but it goes well with tea, too. Here’s a simple and a delicious combination of tea and chocolate with a spicy kick to it.

Chocolate Spiced Tea

You’ll Need
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Water
2 Black Tea Bags
1 Tbls sugar
1/8 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/8 Tsp Ground Ginger
1/8 Tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 Tbls Chocolate Syrup
Whipped Cream For Garnish
Chocolate Shavings For Garnish

Let’s Get Started

Bring milk and water to a boil in a saucepan. Take off the heat and add tea bags. Cover the saucepan and let the tea brew for about 1 1/2 to minutes.

Remove the tea bags and mix in the remaining ingredients except whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Pour the chocolate spiced in two cups. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream with a sprinkle of chocolate shavings on top. Enjoy!

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Vanilla Spiced Coffee

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BEVERAGES RECIPES

A comforting cuppa to treat yourself on a weekend morning. Even elegant enough to serve to your guests as an after dinner coffee drink with a warm slice of cinnamon cake.

Vanilla Spiced Coffee

Delicious Vanilla Spiced Coffee! You’ll Need
1/4 Cup Low Fat Evaporated Milk
2 1/4 Tsp Powdered Sugar
1/4 Tsp Vanilla
1/4 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Hot, Strong Brewed Coffee
A Dash Of Ground Nutmeg
2 Cinnamon Sticks
Whipped Cream

Let’s Get Started

In a small mixing bowl, pour milk. Place the mixer beaters in the bowl. Cover and freeze for about 25 to 30 minutes or until you can see the ice crystals beginning to form.

Take out from the freezer. To it, add the sugar, vanilla, and ground cinnamon. Beat everything until the mixture is thick and fluffy.

Take two cups. Pour about 1/2 cup of milk and spice mixture into into each cup. Pour coffee over the milk mixture in each cup.

Put a dollop of whipped cream on top. Sprinkle nutmeg and serve immediately with a garnish of cinnamon sticks.

Enjoy!

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Orange Chocolate Coffee

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BEVERAGES RECIPES

A quick and simple twist to your coffee. It’s just out of this world delicious!

Orange Chocolate Coffee

Delicious And Divine Orange Chocolate Coffee!

You’ll Need
1 Cup Strong Coffee, Prepared
1 Cup Hot Chocolate, Prepared
2 Orange Slices
Sweet Whipped Cream
A Dash Of Cinnamon

Let’s Get Started

In a bowl, mix together, prepared hot strong coffee and hot chocolate.

Take two cups. Put one orange slice in each cup. Top each cup with the coffee and chocolate mixture.

Garnish with a big dollop of sweet whipped cream. Sprinkle cinnamon on top and enjoy!

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Spiced Orange Cranberry Cider

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BEVERAGES RECIPES

A great spin on a winter’s classic. So delicious, it warms the soul. Oh, and it makes your house smell just heavenly!

Spiced Orange Cranberry Cider

You’ll Need
3 Cups Apple Cider
2 Cups Cranberry Juice
1 & 1/2 Tbls Brown Sugar, Packed
1/2 Tsp Cloves
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Orange, Thinly Sliced

Let’s Get Started

In a large pot, pour the apple cider and cranberry juice. Add to it, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange slices.

Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce heat and remove the orange slices from the pot. Let simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Take off the heat.

Strain the finished drink through a cheesecloth. Straining the drink gives it a more sparkling clearer look.

Serve hot! Enjoy!

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Spicy Mac and Cheese Bake

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HOT n’ SPICY RECIPES

Your regular mac and cheese, but with a little spicy bite to it!!! It’s yummy, comforting and satisfying.

Spicy Mac and Cheese Bake

You’ll Need
1 lb Elbow Macaroni
1 Tbls Salt
3 Tbls Olive Oil
1/2 lbs Mushrooms, Cut In Quarters
1 Onion, Chopped
1 Pkg. Frozen Spinach, Thawed, Drained And Chopped
1 Can (14.5 oz) Diced Plum Tomatoes (With Juice)
2 Tbls Pickled Jalapeno Peppers, Chopped
1/2 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Plus Additional 1/3 Cup, Shredded
1/4 Cup Romano Cheese, Plus Additional 1/3 Cup, Shredded
2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, Diced
4 Tbls Butter, Unsalted
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg

Let’s Get Started

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt to it. Then add the pasta to it and cook till al dente. (Tender but still firm, with a little bite to it.) Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté mushrooms, onion and garlic. Cook

for about 5 to 7 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and onions are golden. To it, add thawed, drained

and chopped spinach alongwith tomatoes, pickled jalapeno peppers and red chili pepper flakes. Cook

everything for about 10 minutes on medium to low heat, till everything is mixed well and heated through.

Take off the heat and keep aside.

In a small bowl, mix together, whole wheat bread crumbs, 1/4 cup romano cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan

cheese. Keep aside.

Take a 9×13 baking dish and butter it. On the bottom of the buttered baking dish, sprinkle half of the bread crumb and cheeses mixture.

Then in a large mixing bowl, mix together the veggie mixture with the remaining parmesan and romano cheese, cooked macaroni, diced mozzarella and nutmeg. Mix everything well, gently.

In the prepared baking dish, spoon the macaroni, cheese and veggie mixture. Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs on top. Also, dot the top of the dish with the remaining butter.

Bake the dish for about 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

And there it is! Sprinkle parmesan cheese on your spicy mac and cheese and dig into it and enjoy! When it comes to comfort food, mac and cheese is the ultimate choice!

Bon Appetit!

With Best Dishes To You All,

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Cheese Chili Casserole

Spicy Eggs Scramble

Ravo

Decanting Wines

Choosing A Wine Glass

Chocolate Spiced Tea

Vanilla Spiced Coffee

Orange Chocolate Coffee

Spiced Orange Cranberry Cider

Spicy Mac and Cheese Bake

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