Eggless Choco Vanilla Marble Cake

I have been wanting to bake this eggless marble cake for a while ever since I was not very successful the last time I baked. I made few modifications and it turned out to be a hit! Here is the recipe!!

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

AllPurpose Flour	1 1/4 C
Baking Powder	2 Tsp
Baking Soda	1/2 Tsp
Cocoa Powder	2 Tbsp
Hot Water	2 Tbsp
Brown Sugar/Regular Sugar	3/4 Cup
Butter/Oil	1/2 Cup
Vanilla Essence	1 Tsp
Milk	3/4 Cup

Evaporated Milk                        2 Tbsp

Method:

• Pre heat the oven to 170 degree C or 340 degree F
• Sieve the flour with baking soda and baking powder.
• Add 2 Tbsp of cocoa power to 2 Tbsp of hot water, mix well with out any lumps and keep aside.
• Add Sugar and Butter/Oil  in a bowl and mix them well until incorporated. If using butter, bring it to room temperature.
• Mix milk and evaporated milk. 
• Mix in the flour, milk, sugar and butter mixture together little by little to form a lump less nice batter.
• Pour the batter to a pre greased and dusted container of your choice. (round tin, bread tin, square tin)
• Now add the cocoa mixture in a spoon on top evenly on the batter, take a fork and make swirls as shown in the pic.

• Bake in a pre-heated oven for 40 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. 
• Let it cool on the cooling rack for 10 mins and enjoy the warm cake

Plum Rolls

I call these Mysterious Plum Rolls, because you wont believe the ingredients that combine and make these delicious rolls. I had Plums in my refrigerator and was thinking what can i make from them, other than the usual jams, cakes and chutneys? My colleague shared this recipe with me and when i tried it, it turned out to be awesome. Simple ingredients, quick and simple recipe with awesome result!!

Plum Roll

Prep. Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 5 mins

Ingredients
3 small size plums
3 Sugar cubes or Granulated Sugar
3 medium boiled and mashed Potato
1/4th cup Flour
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 Tbsp Butter
1/4th cup Bread crumbs
Salt to taste

Wash the plums, take the pits out and leave them to drain in a strainer.

In a pan melt butter and add bread crumbs, mix and stir until they are light brown in color. Add 1 Tbsp sugar and cinnamon.

In another medium sized bowl, add mashed potatoes, flour, salt. Mix everything, until a soft dough is formed. 

Put one sugar cube or granulated sugar in middle of every plum and place them on a plate.

Keep one pot of water to boil.  Divide the dough into three portions. Make balls of each portion, flatten with your hand and put a plum in each one. Then, round the dough around the plum covering the entire plum with the dough. Repeat for all plums. Add the dough covered plums in boiling water. The plums will rise above in water when they are done. Once they come on surface, remove them with the help of a slotted spoon and place them directly into the bread crumb mixture. Roll them well in the mixture and they are ready to be served !!

Baklava

Baklava is a Greek sweet pastry.  Its a very easy and simple dessert, if made from Phyllo Pastry. Phyllo is available in almost all grocery stores in the frozen section.  Enough talking, Let me quickly take you through its making :)

Baklava

Prep. Time : 20 mins
Baking Time : 20-25 mins
Resting Time : 8 hours

Ingredients
Phyllo Pastry
1 cup Coarsely chopped mixed nuts
(Walnuts, Almonds, figs, coconut flakes)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 cup Sugar + 1/4th cup Sugar
1/4th cup Honey (Optional)
1 tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
Butter for brushing

Thaw the Phyllo Pastry according to Package Instructions.  Mix nuts, cinnamon and 1/4th cup Sugar in a bowl and set aside.  (Note: Traditionally Baklava are made from Walnuts, but adding Almonds, figs and coconut flakes enhances its taste and texture. Ratio for the mixture is 4:3:1:0.5).

Preheat oven to 350F.

Melt Butter. Now, on a greased baking tray, start layering the Phyllo. Create a layer of 6 sheets, brushing each sheet with butter before placing the next sheet over it.
Spread half of the nut mixture evenly over the Phyllo.
Layer 2 Phyllo sheets over the mixture. Brush Butter in between the two sheets.
Spread the other half of the mixture evenly.
Create another layer of 6 sheets on the top of the mixture, brushing butter in between the sheets.
Make diagonal slices to make a diamond pattern. Feel free to make pattern of your choice.
Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and Bake until the top is golden brown.  It takes around 40-45 minutes.
While the baklavas are baking, prepare its syrup. Add half cup each of water and sugar in a bowl. Allow the mixture to boil. Add 1 tsp of Lemon juice. Lemon juice will prevent the sugar from crystallizing. You may add Cardamom powder for extra flavor. Once the sugar is dissolved, add honey and stir well.  Stir occasionally until the syrup has started thickening. Switch of the flame and allow the  syrup to cool.
Once the baklava are done, remove them from the oven. Pour the syrup in the cuts. Set them aside for setting. Allow them to set for around 8 hours, though there is no harm in tasting before they are set ;)

Enjoy this mouthwatering Mediterranean dessert in your sweet home!!

Apple Mango Custard with Crunchy Oats

Its Summer!!! The things that come to my mind with Summer are Ice creams, Custards and Milk shakes. This time Nivedhanams blogspot was my partner to the Cyber Potluck Party. She made delicious Oats and Strawberry Milkshake, which inspired me to make this custard.

Apple Mango Custard with Crunchy Oats

Prep. Time - 10 mins
Cooking Time - 2 hrs

Ingredients
For Custard
1 1/2 cup Milk
1 Tbsp Custard Powder
1/4th cup Sugar
1/4th cup chopped Almonds
1 Tbsp Mixed chopped nuts
1/2 cup fresh mixed fruits
 (I used Mango & apples)
Crunchy Oats
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup sugar
For Garnish
Dessicated coconut flakes
silvered almonds

Take 1 Tbsp of Cold milk in a small bowl. Add custard powder to it and mix well.  

Boil rest of the milk. Once the milk is boiled, lower the heat add Sugar, Custard Powder Mixture.  Stir continuously for 5 minutes. Add dry fruits and mix them well. Turn off the gas. 

Let the Custard to cool. Once put the mixture into the freezer.  Allow the mixture to settle in freezer for almost 2 hours. 

Meanwhile, grease a small plate.  Caramelize the sugar and when sugar is caramelized add oats and mix well. (You can also do a mixture of sugar and jaggery). Spread the mixture on the greased plate and make it uniform. With a sharp knife make horizontal and vertical cuts to form squares. Allow it to set. Once they are cool and all set, crush them into small chunks. 

Now when the custard is set, take a glass, put the oats chunks, scoop out or pour the custard mixture and top it with nuts and coconut flakes. 

Enjoy this pretty simple but delicious custard!!

Eggless Banana Oats Mufffins!!

Growing up, I never cared about calories. But, recently, me and my husband both are trying to eat healthy food. My husband says tasty food is never healthy. But after tasting these muffins, view of all those people who think like him, will change - at least his view did change.  These are butter-less & almost sugar-free muffins. They make for a perfect morning breakfast.  Even if you don't like oats, you will surely enjoy these delicious oat muffins!!

Eggless & Healthy Banana Oats Muffins

Prep. Time - 5 mins
Cooking Time - 30-35 mins
Yields : 12 muffins

Ingredients
For Muffins
1 1/2 cup Oats
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour or
Wheat Germ
3 ripe Bananas
1/4th  cup Yogurt/Sour Cream
1/4 th cup Sugar
1/4 th cup crushed walnuts
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 tsp Cinnamon Powder
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda

For Topping (Optional)
1/4th cup crushed Oats
1 tbsp Coconut flakes
1 tsp cold butter

Preheat Oven to 375 F.
Line muffin tray.  In a small bowl mix all the topping ingredients.
In a big bowl mash bananas. Add Cinnamon powder, Vanilla Essence, Yogurt/Sour cream and Sugar. Mix everything well.
In a mixer crush the Oats into coarse powder. Remove them in a bowl.  Add whole wheat flour (or Wheat Germ). Add Baking powder and Baking Soda.  Mix them well. Add these dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Add walnuts and mix everything.
Spoon the mixture into the muffin tray. Spread the topping over the mixture. 
Bake the mixture for 25-30 minutes, until fork/toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Allow the Muffins to cool before you start enjoying them. :)

Mini Apple Pie

Apples and Cinnamon is a classic and artful combination. Last year I made Apple Strudel using Phyllo Sheets. It turned out to be very delicious. So next, i thought of making and sharing with you Apple Pie. Almost every one loves Apple Pie. But its difficult to have a perfect big apple pie & also difficult to cut and serve. So, I thought why not try mini apple pies. Its simple, easy to serve & has added advantage of portion control.

Mini Apple Pie

Prep. Time - 10 mins
Cooking Time - 30-35 mins

Ingredients
1 cup Peeled and Chopped Apples
1 tsp Cinnamon Powder
1/4th cup Sugar
1 tsp butter
1/4th cup Oats
Frozen Pie Crust
1 tsp Orange / Lemon zest
Few Drops of Lemon juice

Normally, I like to try and post made-from-scratch recipes, but I have taken the liberty to do little cheating here. I have used the Pillsbury frozen pie crust. This is really an easy and simple party dessert. So lets get started !!

Thaw the Frozen Pie Crust according to package instructions.

In a small bowl mix apples and cinnamon. Add few drops of lemon juice and mix well.  By adding lemon juice, the apples will not turn brown. Let the mixture rest for atleast 20 mins. 

Preheat oven at 375 F / 180 C.

Unroll the pie crust and cut several circles out. Line each cup of your muffin /cup cake tray with tiny pie crusts.  Press gently to the sides and bottom.

Heat butter in a pan add Oats and stir them for a minute. Add orange or lemon zest and turn off the gas. I had this delicious Orange Marmalade at home, so i used that in place of zest. Add sugar and apple-cinnamon mixture. Mix everything well. Gently fill the lined crusts with the apple mixture. Top it with a small tsp of butter (optional). Cover as desired with the rest of the dough.  

Brush the top with butter. Place the muffin/cupcake pan for baking. Bake them for around 30-35 minutes, until the outer layer is crisp and tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Baking time differs. So start checking after 15 minutes. Once done, remove the cupcakes from the oven, dust powdered sugar and allow them to cool. Enjoy these delicious Mini Apple Pies with tea or coffee or just like that!! :)

Note: Adding Sugar at the end will not only save the mixture from getting watery but there would also be nice caramelized flavor in the baked apple pies. 

               I am taking this delicious dessert to Jagruti's Potluck Party!! 

Pull Aparts

These are easy and incredible pull aparts. A party pleasing appetizer.  I was searching internet for a nice bread recipe when i came across pull aparts.  These pull aparts can be savory or sweet. I tried both in one pan. You can even make them with your kids. They will surely have fun.

Pull Aparts

Ingredients
1 cup All Purpose Flour/Maida
1/4th cup luke warm water
1 tsp Oil
1 tsp active dry yeast
Salt to Taste
1 tsp Sugar or Honey
Butter - for brushing
Milk - for brushing

For Stuffing
Coriander Chutney
Chocolate spread
or any other stuffing of your choice


Take Luke Warm water in a small bowl. Add Sugar (or Honey) and yeast. Mix well and allow the yeast to rise for around 5 minutes.

In another bowl sift All Purpose Flour. You may use Whole Wheat Flour or half all purpose and half whole wheat. Add salt, oil and the yeast mixture to the flour. Knead the mixture and prepare a soft dough. Place the dough covered in a warm place to rise. The dough will double in an hour.

While the dough is rising, prepare your stuffing. You can make any spicy chutney of your choice. I used Coriander Chutney and added Sriracha sauce and Parmesan Cheese to it. Visit my blog post on   chutneys for recipe.

Once the dough is double and your stuffing is ready, take out the dough and punch it down.  Divide the dough into small golf size balls. Roll the ball into a thin disk like roti (flatbread).
Brush it with Butter and then spread the stuffing on the rolled disk. Make sure your stuffing is thick and not watery.
Start rolling the disk from one side till the other end. With a knife make 1 inch apart cuts. In a greased baking tray, place the cut pinwheels with cut side down. Leave some space in between the two pinwheels. Repeat this for the rest of the dough.

Place the baking tray in a warm place for another 30-45 minutes, until the stuffed pinwheels have risen again. Once they have risen, they will tend to stick to each other. Preheat oven at around 350 F. Brush milk on the top and place them for baking. Bake them until the top gets a nice glaze or if tapped the bread sounds hollow.

Enjoy this delicious pull aparts.

Note : You can be innovative with the stuffing.  Try Hazelnut spread, chocolate, apple cinnamon and different varieties of chutneys. 

Baked Stuffed Vegetables

Baked Stuffed Vegetables - Bharwa Sabji

This is something i grew up eating. Just like here in US, parents have baking time with kids, back in my childhood days this was "Sunday fun with cooking". My mom used to get the stuffing ready and me and my sister would have fun, stuffing the veggies. This dish is simple, easy and healthy!! 

Prep. Time : 20 mins
Cooking Time : 40-45 mins

Ingredients
Veggies
Small Potatoes, Eggplants, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Lady Fingers, Parvar (snake Gourd), onions etc. Be imaginative with the vegetables. You can select vegetables of your choice or make with only one vegetable.

For Stuffing
1 Tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida (hing)
1 Tbsp of crushed roasted peanuts
1 tsp Sesame Seeds
1 tsp Red chili powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp lemon juice / 1/2 tsp citric acid
1 cup Chickpea Flour
Salt to Taste

Wash all the vegetables and dry them with a clean towel.
Heat Oil in a Pan, add mustard seeds, when the seeds start crackling add Asafoetida and Chickpea flour. Saute the flour for around 4 to 5 mins until it starts releasing its fragrance.
Add Roasted Peanuts and all other spices. If you are using lemon juice or tamarind pulp,  add that at the end. Add all other spices, mix them well with the flour and then add the lemon juice.
Remove from Heat and allow the stuffing to cool.
Make slits in the vegetables, remove the seeds from peppers, tomatoes.
Fill in the stuffing and place them in a greased deep baking tray.
Sprinkle all the leftover stuffing.
Preheat Oven at 350F.
With a cooking spray, lightly spray oil on all the vegetables.
Cover the baking try with Aluminium Foil and keep them for baking.
After 20 minutes, flip the vegetables and keep them covered for baking again.
The vegetables would be ready in total between 40-45 minutes. 

Twisted Savory Buns

It has been continuously raining outside and me and my husband had this urge to eat something hot, tasty and yet healthy! Ta-da, I immediately thought of these Savory Buns! Simple to make, healthy to eat and satisfies the taste buds :)

Savory Buns

I added equal proportions of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour (maida), but to make it healthier, you can omit all purpose flour completely. Whole Wheat flour dough is sticker and needs little more kneading then the all purpose flour.

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour                3/4 cup
All purpose Flour         3/4 cup
Luke Warm Water       1/2 cup                
Instant Dry Yeast        1/2 tsp
Sugar                        1/2 tsp
Green Chilies             To Taste
Oil                             2 Tbsp
Sesame Seeds            1 Tbsp
Salt                           To Taste
Coriander Leaves        For Garnish
  

Method:

•  In a bowl, add warm water, yeast, sugar and salt and leave it for 10-15 minutes until frothy.
•  Add in 1/2 cup of All purpose flour and Whole wheat flour to the frothy mixture.
•  Mix the flours and water well(at this stage the dough would be sticky, its ok) and leave it covered in a warm place for 1 hour. (If its cold outside, just keep this dough in the oven with the light on)
•  After 1 hour, the dough should be doubled or fairly risen. At this stage, knock down the air, add the rest of the flour (1/4 cup of All Purpose and wheat flour), coarsely ground chilli paste and knead very well (knead for about 7-10 mins). 
•   Make equal sized small round balls from the dough, pop in 3 of these balls in each muffin cup and keep the dough covered in a warm place for about 50 minutes to 1 Hour.

Dough balls risen after an hour of sitting

• In the mean time pre-heat the oven to 200 C/390 F 
• Uncover the muffin tray, brush a little milk on the dough balls to get a good golden color on the buns and sprinkle sesame seeds and coriander leaves.
• Bake it for about 15-20 minutes or till you see a golden brown color on the buns!

Right out of the oven

• Serve warm with hot tea or coffee, or even with a mixture of Olive Oil and freshly crushed black pepper.

 

Tip: 

(1) The Buns should sound hollow when tapped. If they sound hollow, they are ready.

(2) Though you may use any oil, using Olive Oil gives the best result. 

Vegetable Medley

This Vegetable Medley or Handi recipe is perfect for weekends brunch. Its simple, easy and certainly delicious.

Vegetable Handi

Prep Time - 20 mins
Cooking Time - 30 mins

Ingredients
Vegetables
2 cup mixed vegetables (chopped Potatoes,  carrots, cauliflower florets, green pepper, Green Beans and Green Peas (frozen))
1/4th cup cooked soya chunks (optional)
2 Tbsp Oil
Salt to Taste
1 tsp Chat Masala
For Gravy
1 tsp Oil
1/4th tsp Mustard Seeds
1/4th tsp Asafoetida
1 small dried red chili
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp chopped green chilies

1 cup chopped Tomatoes
1 tsp Red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 Tbsp Yogurt / sour cream

Do not get worried after seeing the ingredients. Its all easy now.
Microwave all the vegetables adding water separately  for around 2 minutes.
Drain the water from the vegetables.
Take 1 Tbsp Oil in a deep bottom Pan.
When the Oil is heated, shallow fry the vegetables one by one starting with vegetables that take more time like Potatoes and doing carrots at the end. Add another Tbsp of Oil if required. Shallow fry each vegetable until they are crisp (for around 4-5 minutes).
If you are using Soya Chunks, shallow fry them at last.
Place the fried vegetables on a tissue to absorb extra oil. Sprinkle salt and chat masala on them and mix well.
Now, we will start with the gravy. In the same pan, add 1 tsp of oil and mustard seeds. Allow the mustard seeds to crackle, add asafoetida, dried red chili, green chilies and ginger. Add all the spices.
Add finely chopped tomatoes. Cover the Pan and allow the tomatoes to cook until Oil starts separating. Stir in occasionally.
Once, the tomatoes are done, add yogurt. Mix well. Add salt.
Once fine gravy has been formed add the vegetables and mix well. Cover them and allow them to cook on low- medium heat for around 5-10 minutes or until the vegetables absorb the spices from the gravy.
Garnish with fresh Cilantro and raw mango slices.

Tips :
(1) For reducing the preparation time, you can use the frozen vegetable medley available in the stores. Just add Potatoes. You will save time in chopping and microwaving the vegetables.

(2) Microwave vegetables for 2 intervals around 1 and half minute each. 

Vegan Whole Wheat Orange Cake

Eggless Whole Wheat Orange Cake

On my way back home, I'm was sitting in the bus craving for warm home-made cake. So why delay it? I had oranges and apples at home and after much thinking I decided to bake an Orange cake! I was skeptical of how it would turn out as I had never baked an Orange cake before, but trust me it turned out so wonderful that it got over in no time!!

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes

Eggless Orange Cake

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour/AllPurpose Flour	1 Cup
Baking Powder	1/2 Tsp
Baking Soda	1/2 Tsp
Salt	a pinch
Orange Juice	3/4 Cup
Brown Sugar/Regular Sugar	1/2 Cup
Any Oil	1/4 Cup
Orange Zest	1 Tsp
Walnuts or any nuts	1/4 Cup

Method:

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 degree C or 350 degree F
2. Sieve the whole wheat flour with salt, baking soda and baking powder
3. Add Sugar and Oil in a bowl and mix them well until incorporated.
4. Now add Orange Juice and Orange zest to the mixture.
5. Mix in sieved flour to the wet ingredients along with Walnuts or any nut of your choice.
6. Pour the batter to a container of your choice. (round tin, bread tin, square tin)
7. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes. Insert a fork in the middle of the cake and if it comes out clean, then the cake is completely baked :)
8. Serve warm with tea or coffee 

Notes:

1. I used orange juice that I pureed from fresh oranges. You can also use store bought orange juice.
2. Same can be baked as muffins as well. But reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes. 

Muthia (Steamed Dumplings)

Muthia (Steamed Dumplings)

Muthiyas are savory dumplings traditionally made from Gram flour and bottle gourd. I am sharing my way of making muthiyas. They are good as a snack with tea or as a quick and healthy dinner.

Prep Time - 10 mins
Cooking Time - 15 mins

Ingredients
1/2 cup Coarse Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup Chick Pea Flour
1/4 cup Rice Flour/leftover cooked rice/ leftover Khichdi
1 cup grated bottle gourd and/or zucchini and/or carrots, and/or cabbage
1/4 cup yogurt 
1 Tbsp Oil
1 tsp minced Ginger
1 tsp crushed green chilies.
1 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
Salt to taste

For Tempering
1 Tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
pinch of asafoetida 
1 dried red chili
1 Tbsp Coarsely ground peanuts
1 Tsp Sesame seeds

Mix all the ingredients and form into a soft dough. Make cylindrical rolls. Place the rolls on a greased steamer plate and put them in the steamer. Steam them for around 20 minutes. Apply the tooth pick rule to check whether the muthiyas are cooked or not.

Remove the muthias from the steamer and allow them to cool.  Cut the muthias into small round pieces.  Prepare for tempering. Take  oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, once they start crackling, add asafoetida and red chili. Add peanuts and saute for a minute. Add sesame seeds and chopped muthias. Stir fry the muthias for 2 -3 minutes. Enjoy the delicious Muthias with Tea or Ketchup.

I love to be adventures with Muthiyas. Blanched Spinach and Khichdi makes very soft and delicious muthiyas.
Note : If you are using Khichdi/Rice, skip adding Rice Flour.  

Vegetarian Lasagna

One of the best Italian dishes. So, lets start right away.

Vegetarian Lasagna

Prep. Time 20 mins
Cooking Time 40-45 mins

Ingredients
1 pk Lasagna Noodles
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup
Mozzarella Cheese

Sauce 1
Your choice of Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup grated cabbage
1/2 cup chopped multi colored Bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup frozen corn & peas (optional)

Sauce 2
1 cup Ricotta cheese or Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup chopped and blanched spinach

Cook Lasagna Noodles as per the instructions on the packet. I used oven ready pasta which doesn't need too much cooking. 

Preheat the oven at 350F.

Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan, add cabbage, peppers, zucchini and saute them for a minute. Add pasta sauce and mix well. Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes then, turnoff the gas and set them aside. Make sure your sauce is not too watery.

Mix Ricotta cheese with blanched spinach and set aside. If you are using store brought alfredo sauce, then, cook the sauce for a minute before adding spinach.

Now comes the best part. Layer 1/3 of the cooked noodles, pasta sauce, ricotta/Alfredo sauce, in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Top it with Mozzarella cheese, if you wish. Repeat the layers twice. Top it with grated Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. 

Cook uncovered for 40 minutes. If you are using Oven ready pasta, then cook covered for around 45-50 minutes and then uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Take out from oven and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes. 

Easy Pav Buns or Dinner Rolls in 30 minutes!!

Who doesn't enjoy street food! especially hot Pav-Bhaji. Normally in Indian house holds, bhaji[gravy] is prepared fresh at home and the Pav [ bun] is bought from store. 

Does the idea of eating Bhaji with fresh homemade warm Pav sound mouth watery?? 

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

 

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All purpose Flour	1 and 3/4 cup
Rapid Rising Yeast	1 tsp
Warm Water	1/2 cup and 1 Tbsp
Oil (Any)	2 Tbsp
Salt	To taste
Sesame seeds	1 Tbsp
Milk	1 Tbsp

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degree F / 200 degree C.
2. In a bowl, combine water, oil, yeast and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, add salt and All Purpose Flour (maida) to the above mixture and knead the dough until all the ingredients are well incorporated into a soft and smooth dough.
4. Make 6 equal sized balls, brush them with milk and place them on a greased pan and allow it to rest for 15 minutes. At the end of 15 minutes, the balls would be risen by a considerable amount.
5. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the balls and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Hot Pavs just out of the oven

  Serve warm these Pavs with hot Bhaji sprinkled with lemon juice and garnished with fresh coriander and raw onions. 

Notes:

1. Can add grated garlic or chilli flakes or any other spice of your choice (like basil, oregano) while kneading the dough for variations in taste.
2. While the dough is resting or getting baked, in parallel Bhaji can be made so that at the end of 45 minutes, both pav and bhaji are ready :)

Lapsi Rava Shira

Lapsi Rava Shira

All festivals and celebrations in India start and end with Sweets. And this sweet makes for a  delicious desert.

Prep. Time : 2 mins
Cooking Time : 30 mins

Do not see the time, its a very simple and easy recipe.  Its worth waiting 30 minutes!!

Ingredients

1 cup Fada (cracked wheat)
3/4th cup Sugar
2 Tbsp Ghee or Clarified Butter
1 cup Milk
2 cups Water
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp raisins
few chopped almonds & Cashews

Mix Milk and water in a pan & allow it to boil. You can do so in Microwave as well.
Take Ghee in a separate pan & put it on medium heat.  Add cracked wheat. Saute them, until they turn pinkish brown. Add sugar and cardamom. Mix well. Now add 1 cup mixture of boiled hot water and Milk. Partly cover it and allow to cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once all the water is evaporated, add rest of water and allow to cook. Add raisins and half of chopped nuts. Lapsi is ready when the ghee starts seperating. Garnish with almonds and cashews. Serve it hot or cool.

Rava Dhokla or Semolina Dumplings

Rava Dhokla or Semolina Dumplings, a famous Gujarati Snack (its not sweet though!!), is one of my favorite dinner option.

Rava Dhokla or Semolina Dumplings

Prep. Time : 20 mins
Cooking Time : 10 mins

Ingredients
1 cup Sooji/Rava or Semolina
1/2 cup Yogurt
1 tsp cut green chilies
1 tsp minced ginger
Salt to taste
1 tsp baking soda or ENO
Oil for greasing

For Tempering
1 Tbsp Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
1 tsp chopped Green Chilies
4 -5 curry leaves
pinch of asafoetida

Mix Semolina, Yogurt , chopped green chillies, ginger and salt. Add water and mix well to form a smooth, lump-free batter. Allow the batter to rest for around 30 minutes. For steaming add around 500 ml water in a large pot and put it on medium heat to boil. Grease the dhokla tray or dumpling tray (thalis). After 30 minutes add Baking Soda or ENO to the batter and mix. Immediately, pour the batter in the greased tray and arrange in the steamer. Steam them for 10 minutes. Make sure the bottom of the tray does not touch the water. You can check Dhokla by inserting a toothpick in the center. It will come out clean if the dhokla is done. Turn off the heat and immediately remove the trays from the steamer and let them cool.
 

Cut dhokla in diagonal or square shape using a small knife. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Add mustard seeds. When they start popping add asafoetida, green chilies and curry leaves. Add sesame seeds. Add the cut dhoklas in the pan. Mix them. Turn off the heat. Serve them with Green Chutney or as it is. :)

Banana Walnut Cake

This is one of my favorites. A good combination of Cake and bread.  You can enjoy this cake with a cup of coffee/tea or have it with fresh fruits and whipped cream. It contains very less sugar and has no butter & eggs. So no worries about the calories. 

Banana Walnut Cake

Prep. Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 cup All purpose Flour

2 very ripe bananas

1 cup granulated Sugar

1 cup Walnuts chopped 

1 Tbsp Oil  

2 Tbsp of Yogurt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
pinch of Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon

For Dressing 
Confectioner's Sugar
Cinnamon

Optional
Few Raisins
1/2 tsp Cardamon powder

Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350 F.

In a medium size bowl sift all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt), stir together to combine. In another bowl, combine (with hands or using a hand mixer) mashed bananas, Sugar, Oil and yogurt. Add half of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix until the flour is just mixed in, then add in the remaining flour, 3/4th cup walnuts, raisins, vanilla Essence, cinnamon. Mix well until everything is combined.

Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Top the batter with the remaining chopped walnuts. Bake the for around 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and dress it by sprinkling cinnamon and powdered sugar mixture.

Now comes the hardest part. Allow the cake to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, before you start enjoying this irresistible cake. 

You can make this cake vegan by replacing Yogurt with oil.