Spicy Crackers - Chilli Masala

http://redchillies.us/2009/11/30/chilly-biscuits-spicy-crackers-masala-cookies/

Ingredients

* 1.5 cups Maida/ All Purpose Flour
* ½ cup butter (softened at room temperature) [Great tip from Soumya is to use vegetable shortening to make it even more crispy, my mom used Dalda/Vanaspathi]
* 1 Tbsp combined (Ginger paste + little coriander leaves finely chopped+ finely chopped green chillies+ chopped curry leaves)[ please note that the combination of all this makes 1 Tbsp, NOT 1 Tbsp each.
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp salt ( depending on taste)
* 1 tsp sugar
* 1.5 tsp yogurt/curd/dahi (thick)

Method

* Sieve the sugar, all purpose flour, salt and baking powder.
* Add the softened butter to this in intervals, mix well and make bread crumb like mixture. Knead this as much as possible to make a dough.
* Add the Ginger paste + little coriander leaves finely chopped+ cut green chillies+ cut curry leaves and mix well.
* Press well and use as much elbow grease as possible while mixing. Because of the moisture of ginger paste and chopped coriander leaves, you should be able to make (almost) stiff dough.
* Add 1 tsp of yogurt and mix well. Make sure that the dough is stiff (not soft like chapathi dough).
* Add another ½ tsp yogurt only if required. Knead well for another 2-3 minutes and keep aside covered in a damp cloth.
* Note: Taste a bit of dough to make sure the flavoring is correct.
* Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Grease a cookie sheet and keep aside.
* Take a small portion of the dough and roll like a chapathi until it is ¼ inch thick.
* Using cookie cutter, cut into required shapes. Place it on the cookie sheet.
* Continue doing this until the dough is finished.
* This is a very important step. Prick the top with fork and brush with oil on each of them.
* Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.