Vanilla Horlicks Cookies

I am back.. Yes, I am cooking and experimenting like before but sharing it with all of you my lovely readers becoming a little less as I feel so lazy to type :D But now I have recharged myself and am going to post more frequently :)

Today’s recipe is Vanilla Horlicks Cookies.  The easiest cookies one could ever make.  You would be surprised to see that so little effort and easy peasy ingredients could do such a magic. I bought a small pack of vanilla horlicks to make my double decker choco vanilla horlicks burfi that I totally in love with.  I also tried some cakes with it (vanilla horlicks) and they too came out nice. I do not like vanilla horlicks with milk but love it in my bakes. It takes the baked goodies to another level. 

When I started making these cookies, I had no idea what I was going to add other than horlicks.  Whatever came to my mind I simply added and trust me I was clueless what was going to come out from the oven.  And when I took the first bite, it was simply divine.. so delicious and crunchy cookies were ready right in front of my eyes.  I kept them a bit healthy by adding wholewheat flour and oats flour. 
I liked these cookies so much and so did V and my baby. I think now I am going to get another pack of vanilla horlicks just to make these beauties. 

Making these cookies is just like 1-2-3.  Recipe is so easy to follow so I hope you won’t feel any kind of difficulty while making them. I baked my cookies till I find the top slightly brown. They would be so soft at first but let them completely cool down and they would become crunchy. 
Do not forget to go through the notes given at the end. Happy cooking :)

Makes-20 cookies

Temperature - 180 degree

Baking time – 18 minutes

Ingredients:

Horlicks (Vanilla Flavour)	1 cup
Oats flour	¼ cup
All purpose flour / Maida	¼ cup
Whole wheat flour / Atta	1 tbsp
Salted butter (softened)	½ cup
Caster sugar	¼ cup
Baking powder	½ tsp
Baking soda	1 big pinch
Tutty fruity (I used my homemade tutty fruity)	6 tbsp

My 1 cup measures 250 ml.

Method:

• In a wide bowl, mix together Horlicks, oats flour, all purpose flour, wheat flour, castor sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Add in softened butter and mix well with your fingers. Add in tutty fruitty and knead the mixture to a soft dough.
• Make three logs with the prepared dough and cover them with a cling film. Chill them for atleast 30 minutes.

• Meanwhile, take a baking tray and line it with aluminium foil. Grease the foil. Set aside.
• After 30 minutes, with a sharp knife cut the logs into round cookies. Arrange the cookies in prepared baking tray. Set aside.
• Preheat oven at 180 degree and bake the cookies for 18 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Shift to a wire rack and let them cool down completely.
• After cooling down cookies would become crunchy.
• Store them in an airtight container. 

Notes:

1. In place of castor sugar, you can use powdered sugar.
2. Instead of tutty fruity, you can add your choice of nuts or dried fruits.
3. If you find the dough a bit dry, you can add a tsp of milk.
4. Do not skip the chilling part, it would make the cutting easier.
5. You have to be very patient while cutting the cookies as they may get broken so do it very carefully. If it gets broken while cutting then don't worry, you can take the broken pieces in your hand and press them a little and your cookie is good to go. 
6. Do not over bake the cookies. Once they get slightly brown on the top, remove from the oven. 
7. Cool down the cookies completely before storing them.

Chhenar Payesh / Paneer Kheer

Chhena/Paneer is a versatile ingredient. You can make endless things with it.  Be it different kind of starters, snacks, main course or desserts/sweets, you can never go wrong with Chhena/Paneer.  

Today's recipe is a Bengali dessert called Chhenar Payesh or Paneer Kheer.  I like quick desserts so tried to make an instant version of this dessert too and it came out to be so delicious.  I loved the creamy and melt in mouth texture of it.  
Its a no fail recipe that is so quick to make.  It was my first attempt to make this dish and I was so happy with the results.  Would love to make it again and again.

Here is the recipe for you.  Happy Cooking :)

Ingredients:

Fresh Chhena/Paneer	¾ cup (crumbled)
Milk	¼ cup
Condensed milk	2 tbsp
Sugar	3 tsp
Thandai powder	2 tsp
Milk powder	3 tbsp
Desiccated coconut	2 tbsp
To decorate
Honey	¼ tsp
Brown sugar	1 tbsp
Almonds	1 chopped lengthwise
Choco drop	1

Method:

• In a non-stick pan take condensed milk, milk, milk powder, desiccated coconut and sugar.  Mix them well and put the pan on stove.  Keep the heat medium.  Cook for 2 minutes and add crumbled chhena.  Mix well and cook till it gets a bit thick.  Add thandai powder and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  You can adjust the consistency by adding some more milk.
• Remove from flame and let it cool down.
• Meanwhile take the bowl/glass you want to serve the dessert in.  Brush the rim of the glass with honey.  Spread the brown sugar in a plate and dip the glass rim in it.  Coat it well with brown sugar and set aside.
• Take the prepared Chhenar Payesh and carefully fill the decorated glass with it.  Garnish the top with chopped almonds and choco drop.  
• Chill for 1-2 hours and serve.

Notes:

1. You can use packaged paneer too but for best results use fresh chhena/paneer.  
2. Instead of thandai powder you can use 2-3 crushed cardamoms or saffron.
3. Sugar level you can adjust as per your taste.
4. Desiccated coconut is optional but it gives a nice texture to this dessert.
5. You can also add your choice of nuts in it.