Condensed Milk Cake

It was my brother in law's birthday and i wanted to make a Cake for him. The challenge was to make it without BUTTER, SUGAR AND OVEN!! Utilizing my experience and bit of google research, i came up with this recipe.

Cooker Cake

Prep Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time: 40-45 mins

Dry Ingredients

Maida - 11/4th Cup

Corn Flour - 1/4th cup

Baking Powder - 11/2 Tsp

Baking Soda - 1/2 Tsp
Coco Powder - 1/4th cup

Salt - pinch 

Wet Ingredients

Vanila essense - 2-3 drops

Cooking Oil - 1/3rd Cup

Condensed Milk - 200gm or half tin

Chopped Almonds/Pistachios - for decoration 

Salt /sand for heating

Take a Cooker and place it on the stove. Spread sand or salt at the bottom and start heating at medium speed.

Grease cake tin that will easily fit in the cooker.

Mix all the Dry Ingredients. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve twice.

In another bowl mix condensed Milk and Oil. Add few drops of Vanilla Essence. Now, slowly add the dry ingredients into the bowl. Mix well to form cake batter. Do not over Mix.

Pour the batter into already greased tin. Sprinkle the chopped almonds and pistachios on the top.

Put a  stand in the cooker. Place the cake tin on the stand inside the cooker.

Reduce the heating level to low.
Remove gasket ring and whistle from the cooker cover and place the cover on the cooker.

Allow the cake to cook for around 40-45 minutes on low heat. After 40-45 minutes, open the cover and using a knife test whether the cake is done or not. If the knife comes out clean, then the cake is done.

Remove the cake tin from the cooker and allow it to cool. Once cool, flip the tin on a plate and the cake will come out easily. Enjoy !!!

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!! 

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. 

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.

Delectable Apple Strudel

Apple Strudel

Hello Everyone,  i am back after a long break.

I have lot of recipes to share,  but since its Christmas time, i am sharing a quick and easy apple strudel recipe.

Prep. Time : 40 mins
Cooking Time : 30 mins

Ingredients
1 big apple
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4th cup sugar
1/4th cup oats
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp butter
Phyllo sheets

Remove the skin and cut the apple into half inch pieces. Add lemon juice and cinnamon and toss the apples to mix them well. Add some extra cinnamon powder if you like to have strong cinnamon flavor. Lemon juice prevents the apples from changing colour. Leave them aside for half an hour. 

 

Heat a pan and add half of the butter. Once the butter is melted add oats and mix them well. Turn off the heat. Add sugar and apple mixture. Mix everything properly and set aside. 

Preheat the oven at 350 degree F.

Now butter one sheet of phyllo and place another sheet above the same. Butter the second sheet. Repeat this one more time. This means now you have 3 sheets in total one above the other.  With the short side facing you, spoon the apple mixture onto the bottom part of the sheet leaving around 1 inch margin at the bottom.  Fold half inch of sheet from both the sides and roll up like a jelly roll. Place the seam- side down onto the baking sheet.  Brush with butter.

Bake the strudel for around 30 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. Now the most difficult part, allow the strudel to cool for around 20 minutes. 

You can make a single strudel in big size & cut into pieces for serving.  Or  you may also make multiple small serving size strudels. You can also use puff pastry instead of phyllo sheets.

Please feel free to post your comments and reviews. 

Sabudana Kheer or Tapioca Pudding

Sabudana Kheer or Tapioca Pudding

Sabudana is also known as Tapioca or Sago. Its  a kind of processed starch eaten mostly on fasts. Sabudana kheer or call it Tapioca Pudding, is a simple, easy and quick recipe.

Prep Time - 30 mins

Cooking Time - 15 mins

Ingredients

Milk - 2 cups

Sabudana - 1/4th cup soaked

Sugar - 1/4th cup or to taste

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp

Finely sliced Almonds - 8-10

Soak sabudana for atleast 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can dream of having a tasty kheer in next 45 minutes. :) 

Take milk in a fat bottom pan. Bring milk to boil on medium heat. Then add soaked sabudana and stir well. Add sugar and cardamom powder. Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir occasionally not allowing the milk to stick at the bottom and sides of the pan. Add half of the sliced almonds. Stir the milk occasionally until the sabudana are transparent and the kheer has thickened as shown.

Take the kheer in a bowl, garnish with the remaining almonds and enjoy it hot. :) You can allow this to cool down and enjoy it as a pudding :).

Chocolate dipped Strawberries

A treat for all occasions !!

Chocolate dipped Strawberries

Though not very famous in India, chocolate dipped strawberries are very popular in US. They are a perfect gift for any occasion. The ones that i have shown are simple ones made using white chocolate. You may use dark chocolate or combination of both.

Ingredients

Fresh Strawberries

White Chocolate or any other chocolate you like.

Wash and dry the strawberries, making sure the berries are fully dry as water will not allow the chocolate to set on the berry.

Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave.

For melting methods, please check my post on how to melt chocolate.

Dip the strawberry in the white chocolate, holding onto the stem of the strawberry. Alternatively, you can also use toothpicks. Insert the toothpick vertically starting from the stem. Give it a quick little twist and then place on a piece of wax paper or butter paper. Allow them to set at room temperature for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, place them in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Now they are ready to be enjoyed. Best eaten the day they are made.

You can use any type of chocolate you wish, you may also use chocolate chips in place of chocolate bars. I used Bakers Corner Almond Bark. 

You can also coat cookies, apples, bananas and orange slices similar way. But nothing beats dipped strawberries. Do try, impress your loved ones and don't forget to let me know how it turned out.

Carrot Halwa or Gajar Halwa

Gajar Halwa

The first thing that comes in mind on reading gajar halwa are the hassles of peeling and grating carrots and its long and difficult procedure. But the below recipe is quick and hassle free.

Ingredients
Baby Carrots  - 1 lb
Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 1/4th cup
Cardamon powder - 1 tsp
Raisins - few
Ghee - 1 tsp
Mixed Almonds & Cashew nuts- to decorate

Using baby carrots will eliminate the need of peeling and grating carrots with hands.

First, wash the baby carrots put them in a food processor and grind them until fine. Heat ghee in a thick bottomed pan, add grated carrots and saute for 5 mins. Add cardamom powder and saute for a minute. Cardamom powder will start giving its smell. After that add milk. Milk should cover the carrot mixture.

Add raisins. Stir and cook for five minutes. Add sugar and mix well. You may also add 1 tablespoon of condensed milk. If you are adding sweetened condensed milk then, taste it before adding sugar. Adding condensed milk gives a nice texture to the halwa. Cook until milk evaporates and carrots are cooked. Stir occasionally just to ensure that carrots do not stick to  the bottom.

You can see in the image above, milk has evaporated. Add chopped almonds and cashew nuts. Mix well. Serve hot or at room temperature. Its all your wish. You can see how well and yummy it turned out to be :) your comments and suggestions are welcome.. :)