Date-n-Nut Cake, Lemon Garlic Chicken and more party recipes

Treat your friends and guests to these finger licking recipes and make an instant impression this festive season. You can share yours too!

We can all feel the nip in the air for Christmas and New Year is round the corner.

The houses around you are lit in bright coloured lanterns and festoons.

With the holiday season ringing in, in the days to come, you'll be expecting friends and relatives to come over to your place to share the joy.

What's a get together without good food, cakes and some essential wine.

Praveen Kumar, owner of of awesomecuisine.com shares with us five lip-smacking, easy-to-make festive recipes.

1. Lemon and Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts, skinless
• 1/4 cup maida
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Black pepper powder as per taste

Method

• Dredge the chicken breasts in maida and keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan over medium flame.
• Add the chicken and garlic.
• Saute well for 5 to 6 minutes or until chicken is cooked.
• Remove and keep it in a warm place.
• To the pan, add the white wine, lemon juice and pepper powder.
• Gently scrap the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil.
• Continue to simmer until the juice mixture is reduce to about 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
• Pour over the chicken.
• Serve at once.

Liked this recipe? Click here for more recipes and food features!

Reader Invite: Have an interesting recipe to share for the party season? 

Send it to us at getahead@rediff.co.in with your name, hometown and any interesting details about the origin of the recipe, along with a photograph if possible. We'll publish the best ones right here on rediff.com and in India Abroad.

Please click NEXT to continue reading...

2. Date and Nut Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates, chopped
• 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups maida
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• Salt as per taste

Method

• Combine the dates and baking soda in a bowl.
• Pour the hot water and keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add all the other ingredients and mix well.
• Pour into a greased cake pan and place it in a preheated oven at 350F/175C.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden.
• Remove and cool.
• Serve.

3. Mashed Potatoes with Garlic

Ingredients

• 3 peeled potatoes, chopped
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/2  tbsp butter
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• ¼ cup warm milk
• Salt as per taste
• Black pepper powder as per taste

Method

• Heat olive oil and 1/2 tsp butter in a pan.
• Fry the garlic cloves till golden.
• Remove, cool and mash well.
• In a large pan, add the potatoes and pour enough water to cover the potatoes.
• Add little salt and bring to a boil.
• Simmer for another 15 minutes or until tender.
• Drain and mash the potatoes well.
• Add the remaining butter and beat well.
• Add sour cream, milk, garlic, salt and pepper powder.
• Mix well and serve.

4. Yorkshire Pudding

Ingredients

• 3 cups maida
• 5 to 6 eggs, well beaten
• 3 cups milk
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup raisins

Method

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, milk and beaten eggs together.
• Whisk well.
• Add the raisins.
• Pour into a greased baking pan.
• Place the pan into a preheated oven at 450F/225C for 25 minutes.
• Remove and cool.
• Serve.

5. Chicken and Rosemary Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 ready-made pizza base
• 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese + 1/4 cup for garnish
• 1 cup chicken cooked, chopped
• ½ cup onions, sliced
• 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tbsp rosemary, chopped
• Black pepper powder as per taste
• Salt as per taste

Method

• Combine the cheese, chicken, onions, parsley, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, pepper and salt in a bowl. Mix well.
• Spread this over the pizza base and garnish with the 1/4 cup of cheese.
• Place it in a preheated oven at 1800C and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until golden.
• Remove and keep aside for five minutes.
• Cut into slices and serve at once.

 Tip: If desired, chopped tomatoes can be added.