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December 30, 2011

Lemon juice

lemon juice 1

This lemon juice will help alkalize the body.  I like to drink it through a straw to protect my teeth:)

Ingredients :
  1. 1/2 Lemon
  2. A glass of water
  3. Sugar to taste
  4. A pinch of salt 
Method :

Squeeze the lemon juice & add to a glass of water.  Add sugar & a pinch of salt.  Mix well & serve cool.

lemon juice 2

December 28, 2011

Banana Walnut muffins

banana muffin 3

Banana muffins are simple to bake by just combining both wet & dry ingredients together.  It taste little crunchy outside and very moist inside when served immediately.  Outside layer tends to become softer when stored & served next day, yet taste delicious & perfect for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients :
  1. Walnuts - 1 cup
  2. All purpose flour - 1 3/4 cups
  3. Sugar - 3/4 cup
  4. Baking powder - 1 tsp
  5. Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
  6. Salt - 1/4 tsp
  7. Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
  8. Eggs - 2 nos 
  9. Unsalted butter, melted & cooled - 1/2 cup
  10. Large bananas - 3 nos 
  11. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp  
banana muffin 2


Method :

1.   Preheat the oven at 180 C & line up the muffin pan with paper liners.

2.   Sieve & combine together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder, salt, nuts & sugar.

3.   In another bowl, combine together the mashed bananas, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs & vanilla extract.

4.   Now fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined.

5.   Spoon the batter in the prepared muffins pans & bake it for 20 - 25 mins or until done.

banana muffin1

Serve warm.

December 27, 2011

Bitter gourd curry - spicy & tangy

bittergourd 3

Good, healthy and nutritious vegetable.  Due to medical values, we try to have it once in a week.   Boiling and deep frying the bitter gourd removes the bitterness and taste delicious with rice and rotis.  

Ingredients :
  1. Bittergourd - 100 gms
  2. Oil - 1 tbsp
  3. Onion - 2 large sized
  4. Tamarind pulp - 1 tsp
  5. Jaggery (or sugar) - 1/4 tsp
For Dry roast :
  1. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  2. Urad dal - 1 tsp
  3. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
  4. Black pepper corns - 1 tsp
  5. Corriander seeds - 1 tsp
  6. Red chillies to spice (arround 3 to 4)
  7. Ginger - 1 inch piece
  8. Garlic - 2 pods 
Grind them to smooth paste by adding little water.

bittergourd 2

Method :

1.   Boil the water and switch off the flame.  Put the chopped bitter gourd in the water & cover it for 10 mins.

2.   Drain the bitter gourd and deep fry them in the oil.  Keep aside.

3.   Heat oil in the pan, add onions and saute till tender.

4.   Add the grounded paste, tamarind pulp & cook.

5.   Add the fried bitter gourd and jaggery & cook for another 5 mins on low flame.

bittergourd 1

Serve with rice.

December 26, 2011

Dairy-free chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

cake 3

Best dairy free chocolate cake which turns out to be the best all the time.  This rich and creamy frosting makes this cake more delicious.  Merry christmas to all my readers.

Ingredients :
  1. All purpose flour - 3 cups
  2. Salt - 1/2 tsp
  3. Baking powder - 1 tsp
  4. Baking soda - 1 tsp
  5. Cocoa powder - 2/3 cup
  6. Sugar - 2 cups
  7. Vinegar - 2 tbsp
  8. Chilled water - 2 cups
  9. Vegetable oil - 2/3 cup
  10. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
For frosting :
  1. Unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped - 120 gms
  2. Unsalted butter - 2/3 cup
  3. Icing sugar - 1 1/3 cups
  4. Vanilla extract - 1 1/2 tsp
  5. Toasted almonds for surrounding the cake
  6. Golden & pearl sugar balls for decoration
cake 2

Method :

1.   Preheat the oven to 180 C.  Lightly grease and flour the cake tin.

2.   Sift flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa into large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3.   Pour into prepared tin and bake for 40 to 45 mins.  

For the frosting :

4.   Melt the chocolate & allow it to cool completely.

5.   Cream the butter until light and fluffy.  Add sugar & vanilla extract.

6.   Add the melted chocolate and mix slowly until incorporated.


7.  Cut the cake horizontally and spread the frosting & finally over the cake.

8.   Now decorate the cake with toasted almonds in the side & on the top.

cake 1

Happy baking :)

December 21, 2011

Meat balls in spicy coconut gravy

meat ball2

Ingredients :
  1. Kheema - 400 gms
  2. Cashews - 13 nos
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Cinnamon stick
  5. Cloves - 3 nos
  6. Cardomom - 2 nos
  7. Onion - 2 nos
  8. Riped Tomato - 1 large or 2 small
  9. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  10. Chilly powder - 2 tsp (adjust according to ur spice level)
  11. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  12. Coconut paste (I used 1/2 coconut)
  13. Corriander leaves
meat ball3




Method :

1.   Grind the kheema along with the salt.

2.   Make small kheema balls resembling like a golf ball & stuff one cashew in the middle & keep it aside.

3.   Heat oil in the heavy bottomed pan, add cinnamon, cloves, cardomom and onion.

4.    Saute them for few mins till onion turns golden brown, add ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder.

5.    Add tomatos, chilly powder & salt to taste.

6.   Now arrange the khemma balls inside. Cover & cook for 15 mins, till kheema becomes tender.

7.   Add coconut paste & cook for further 10 min.  Garnish with corriander leaves.

meat ball1

Serve with rice.

December 19, 2011

French Toast

bread 1

French toast most popular american breakfast can be prepared with lots of different flavors and variation.  
Sometimes I like to add cinnamon or vanilla essence for little variation.  This can be served by dusting the powdered sugar or just like that.  Kids will love it :)

Ingredients :
  1. Bread slices - 4 to 5 nos
  2. Milk - 1/2 cup
  3. Egg - 1 no
  4. Sugar to taste
  5. Cinnamon powder (optional) - 1/2 tsp
  6. Butter / oil  for frying
  7. Powdered sugar (optional) for dusting
bread 2

Method :

1.   Whisk together the milk, egg, sugar & cinnamon powder.  

2.   Heat the pan,  now dip the bread slices in the egg mixture & cook them till golden brown in either side.

3.   Dust it with powdered sugar and serve.

bread 3

Serve warm.

December 15, 2011

Gingerbread - Christmas celebration starts

gingerbread 1

My christmas baking starts with this delicious gingerbread.  It taste delicious with the flavour of ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg powder.  There are many ways to decorate this gingerbread.  Here  I used the confectioners frosting for the decoration.  Instead we can use the raisins and nuts too.  And this recipe is adopted from "Joy of Baking".  

Ingredients :
  1. All purpose flour - 3 cups
  2. Salt - 1/2 tsp
  3. Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
  4. Ginger powder - 2 tsp
  5. Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
  6. Nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
  7. Cloves powder - 1/4 tsp
  8. Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
  9. Sugar - 1/2 cup
  10. Egg - 1 large no
  11. Molasses - 2/3 cup  
Frosting :
  1. Powdered sugar / Icing sugar - 2 cups
  2. Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup
  3. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
  4. Light cream or milk - 1 1/2 tbsp 
gingerbread 3

Method :

1.   Sieve together the flour, baking soda, all spices and salt.  

2.   Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and molasses and beat until well combined.

3.   Gradually add the flour and mix.

4.   Divide the dough  and wrap it and refrigerate it until firm (atleast 2 hrs)

5.   Roll the dough into desired shape.  Preheat the oven at 350 F and bake it for 10 mins or until done.

For the frosting :

6.   Beat the butter and add vanilla extract.  Gradually add the powdered sugar & finally the milk and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

7.   Decorate the gingerbread with the frosting.

gingerbread2

Merry christmas :)

December 12, 2011

Strawberry Milkshake

milk shake 2

Refreshing, creamy, rich & delicious milk shake just perfect for kids after school.

Ingredients :
  1. Strawberry - 1/4 cup 
  2. Sugar - 2 tsp
  3. Vanilla ice cream - 2 scoops
  4. Milk - 1 cup
Method :

1.   Place strawberries in the bowl of a blender and blend until finely chopped.

2.   Add milk and blend until almost smooth.  

3.   Add ice cream and sugar and continue blending until thick and well combined.

milkshake 1

Serve immediately. 

December 6, 2011

Pickled onions - Perfect for tandoori chicken

onion pickle 2

This pickled onions are perfect when served with tandoori chicken, grilled food, hot dogs & in the burgers.  All we need to do is slice the onions & soak it in the boiling water and finally mix it with lemon juice and salt.  Very simple & easy to make yet taste crunchy and delicious.  

Ingredients 
  1. Onion - 1 no, thinly sliced
  2. Red chilly powder to taste
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Red color - a pinch
  5. Lemon juice - 3/4 cup, enough to submerge onions
onion pickle 1

Method :

1.   In a saucepan, boil a cup of water.  Once the water is boiled, switch off the flame and add the sliced onions and cover the pan with the lid.  Let it rest for 30 mins and then drain the water thoroughly.

2.   In a bowl, mix together the onions, red chillypowder, salt, red color & lemon juice.  

onion pickle 1

Ready to serve.

December 2, 2011

Pesto Trapanese

pasta 1

Most popular Italian dish which is highly nutritious and healthy.  Crunchy taste of almonds with fresh basil and tomatoes makes this pasta more delicious.

Ingredients :
  1. 13 oz dried pasta
  2. 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  3. 1 1/4 cups basil leaves, plus extra for garnishing
  4. 2 fresh red chillies, seeded
  5. 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped ripe tomatoes
  6. 1 cup almonds with skin on, coarsely grounded
  7. 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  8. Salt
  9. Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to serve (optional)
pasta 2

Method :

1.   Cook the pasta in a salted boiling water according to the package instructions until done.

2.   Meanwhile, put the garlic cloves, basil, chillies and tomatoes in a food processor and process until finely chopped but not smooth.  Stir in the ground almonds and oil, and season with salt.

3.   Drain the pasta and return to the pan.  Add the pesto and stir thoroughly.  Serve immediately with a sprinkling of grated cheese and garnish with basil leaves.

pasta 3

Enjoy.
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