Roasted Potatoes

This recipe was on Everyday Italian show at Food Network. It's very quick and hasslefree.

Ingredients:
- Small red potatoes (10-20)
- Small white potatoes (10-20)
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
- Olive Oil
- Salt, Black pepper

1. In a bowl mix olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper (and any other herbs you want)
2. In a baking pan or sheet, put potatoes and pour the oil mixture
3. Put it in the oven for about 45 mins.- 1 hr at 400 degrees

It could be prepared in advance if company is coming over, and just reheat when needed in the oven for 10 mins.

Jeera Aaloo (Potatoes with Cumin Seeds)

This is one of the simplest dishes you can make. And I have made it many times when I don't have enough time, or I just need to add one extra side dish to the menu. Whatever the case, try this quick and easy recipe for potatoes.

There are many versions for it. This is the simplest one that I like.

4 Potatoes
2 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
2 green chilli pepper (split in half)
Salt and red chilli pepper according to taste

1. Boil potatoes (I usually do this in the microwave. Just wash the potatoes, put it in a plastic bag, and boil for about 4-5 mins)
2. Let the potatoes cool a bit, and unpeel them. Cut the potatoes in square pieces.
3. Take a pan, and heat the oil
4. Add cumin seeds to it, and add the green chilli peppers. Cook it until the cumin seeds are little brown.
5. Add potatoes to it.
6. Add salt, red chilli powder to it. Also if you like you can add 1 teaspoon of garam masala.

This can be eaten hot or you can just pack and take it with you as a snack. It's quick, easy and delicious!

Quick & Easy Home-made Yogurt

I used to think that making yogurt (dahi) at home is very time consuming and takes a lot of effort. However, that's not the case at all. It's very simple, economical and takes no time at all. All you need for making home-made yogurt is milk and 2 tablespoon of yogurt.

The steps to making home-made yogurt are:

1. Boil milk on microwave or stove. I usually do this in the microwave in a glass bowl so that it goes from microwave to fridge to the dinner table.
2. Let the milk cool down so that it's warm. During winter, don't let it cool down too much.
3. Add 2 tablespoon of yogurt which acts as a culture.
4. Cover it with a lid. Put it in such a place so that it does not get moved or knocked over. If it's winter, you can also put a cloth over it.
5. Let it sit for more 8-12 hours, and that's it.

I usually boil the milk while I am eating dinner or after dinner. Let the milk cool down a bit, and then add culture to it. Set is aside for the whole night. Next day, home made yogurt is ready!

Super fast dish made with home made cheese

There is a very simple way to make cheese from milk, and this type of cheese is very common in India. So how do you do it? It's very simple, and takes only a few minutes.

A lot of people are curious how to make fresh cheese at thome. It is easy really.

I'll describe how to make fresh cheese, and a simple recipe using fresh onions and tomatoes. So here it goes:

I. Make Fresh Cheese From Milk:
1. Boil 1/2 gallon milk on stove or microwave.
2. After it comes to a full boil, put two tablespoon of vinegar in it, and keep stirring. As you are stirring you'll see cheese forming and separating from water. Keep stirring until you see the liquid become more or less clear. It looks like Cottage Cheese.
3. Strain the cheese in a strainer. That's it, home made cheese is ready!

It could be used for making sandwiches right away, or you can make paneer burji in another 10 mins.

=> I usually boil milk in the microwave, as it's easy to clean up. For 1/2 gallon of milk, my microwave usually takes 6-8 min, but be sure to watch it.

II. Making Indian Panner Burji (Fresh made cheese with ginger, onions, tomatoes)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 onion if it's big (or 1 small one) chopped
• 1 diced tomato
• 1 teaspoon ginger minced
• 2 teaspoon oil
• Salt, pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• Garam Masala (Optional)

1. In a pan, heat some oil.
2. Put some minced ginger in it.
3. Put chopped onions in it, and let it become light brown.
4. Put diced tomatoes in it (fresh or canned)
5. Add salt, pepper according to taste.
6. Add turmeric powder.
7. Cook for about 5 mins (till most of the water is dried).
8. Put fresh made cheese in it.
9. Add some garam masala if you have it.
10. Serve with bread.

Wasn't that simple. You can make the cheese ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. And then when you are ready just make sandwiches with it, or make delicious fresh paneer burji with onions, tomatoes, and ginger and serve it hot!