Feelings for felt craft

It was the first time I felt for Felt Craft when I was zipping around on the streets of Goa. The colourful shop wouldnt just let me get by! So took a U-turn and got in there...It was a nice warm mushy fabric bringing comfort in so many different shapes and colours. That's what I love about craft. The ability to make your imaginations come true. And this form was just beautiful. I buttoned up a colourful flower on my straw hat, and bought a pretty Ladybug purse for myself. I did pay a humongous amount at that time...but I had never seen it elsewhere in Hyd...The shopkeeper mentioned that he got these products from Himachal Pradesh. I never found this fabric in Hyd. But here in the US, it's easily available. I bought a few sheets to start my experiments and express some love! Here is how it's starting to blossom. Thanks to so many of those who post their tutorials....I will do it someday too if I get good at it that is :)

Cupped Tortilla

Prep- Pre heat the Oven to 400 F

For the dough:

Use 1 1/2 cup of whole wheat, 1/2 cup of all purpose flour, pinch of salt, pinch of baking powder.

For the filling:

I used corn, chopped onions, tomatoes,green chillies,corriander. Season it with black rock salt, black pepper, salt and some Italian Dressing and lemon juice.

Bake the tortilla cups for 14-16 minutes

Let them cool and then fill the filling and serve!:)

My Oooops Moments :-O

- Some of the Tortilla cups got too thick, so make sure yours are as thin as possible.

- While filling in the fill..make sure you do not pour in the liquid(from the lemon especially) or it starts dripping when people bite into the cups.

Baked Gobhi

Prep: Pre heat the oven to 400F

Cut the florets into even sizes since it they all will roast even that way.

Wash the florets thoroughly and pat dry 

In a bowl pour in just enough olive oil that will wrap around the florets(you dont want it dripping around), add in some salt, season with chaat masala, rock salt, turmeric and chilli powder. Now mix this well with the oil and then toss the Cauliflower florets in this mix. Once its nicely wrapped, they are ready for roasting.

Spread across the florets on the try and let them bake for 20 minutes, then toss them around and bake for another 15-18 minutes.

Serve with some ketchup or green chutney!:)

Chocolate Pecan Brownies

 Makes10 small piece

- prep : Always remove eggs from the refrigerator  in case they are cold and allow them to come to room temperature.

-Pre heat the oven to 350 F

-Start Mixing in a bowl:

1/4 tbs baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa (I used Hershey's)

1/2 Cooking oil

1/2 Boiling Water

Let this become a nice thick paste and then add..

1 cup All purpose flour

1/4 tbs/ 2 drops of Vanilla Extract

1/2 tbs salt

Toss in the Pecans now...you can choose the nuts you want and make sure they are small

Grease the pan well and use a parchment sheet if you have one, I made mine without it but buttered the pan well and sprinkles some cocoa powder (since its a chocolate cake ;) ) 

Pour the batter and then bake it for ideally 30 minutes, do  the toothpick test , where you poke it in and if it comes out clean...your cake is ready!!! Cool it for a while before serving.

Ref:http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2010/05/homemade-chocolate-brownies.html

TRY THIS TIP:Spread into a lined and greased 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Whenever I cook brownies, I lower the heat to 325 as soon as I put the brownies in oven and cook for a few extra minutes. This helps to prevent hard, crunchy edges.

Cupcakes: Basic and Chocolate

Prep:

Proportionwise I used half a cup of sugar and half a cup of butter and one and a half cup of all purpose flour.

Mix together sugar and butter till the mixture is nice and fluffy, about 4 minutes is good.

Mix in flour, half a tbsp salt(if the butter you used is unsalted), one tbsp of baking powder.

Now keep adding this flour to the butter and sugar mixture...alternating it with milk...just enough so that the batter is of pasty consistency. Also add in Vanilla extract at this point. 

-Variation: I had some cocoa powder so I added that in some part of the batter..add in some sugar coz cocoa is very bitter.

Baking: Preheat the oven to 350 F and bake the cuppies for a perfect 25 minutes on the middle rack!

Allow the cupcakes to cook a little before you take them off.

Baked samosa:

For dough:

2 cups of all purpose flour

4 tbsp oil

some salt

luke warm water to knead the dough.

Filling:

Prepare a mixture of mashed boiled potatoes, add in chaat masala, amchur, cumin powder, red chili powder, black pepper powder. Mix them all well and keep aside.

pour in oil, cumin seeds, finely chopped ginger, peas, coriander powder and turmeric powder, now add in the above mention potatoes mixture

Once it starts cooking, add in some garam masala, turn off the stove and then add some lemon juice for the tangy touch.

Fill in the filling in the dough, as you make a semicircle and fold the sides to make the traingular shaped samosas. Always use little water to seal the edges. 

Baking:

Pre heat the oven to 350 F, then turn it down to 335 F and then let the samosas bake for 20 minutes and then turn them around and let them bake for another 20 minutes.