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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Eggless Vanilla Cake with Choco chips

I baked this cake today. It turned out to be very tasty & loved by all in my family. Please do not get scared with the brown topping of the cake.. that is melted choco chips.
 


 

 

 


Ingredients:
 
Refined flour (maida)  - 1 cup
Baking Soda -  1 1/2 tsp
Baking powder  - 1 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 3 tbsp
Unsalted butter -  55 grams 
Condensed milk  - 1/2 tin (200 gms)
Milk  - 1 cup
Vanilla essence  - 1 tsp
Choco chips - 2 tbsp

Method:
  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
  2. Grease an eight-inch round cake tin and lightly dust it with flour.
  3. Sift flour with soda bicarbonate and baking powder.
  4. Cream together the sugar and butter, till light and fluffy.
  5. Add the condensed milk and beat well.
  6. Stir in the milk and vanilla essence. Gradually add the flour, mixing well after each addition.
  7. Mix well for three to four minutes till the mixture is smooth and light.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared tin, add choco chips on the top and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. 
Tips:
  • Tastes best with chocolate syrup or fresh cut fruits like pineapple or peaches
  • Cooking time may vary in different ovens

 

Diet Chole or Channa (Oil Free)

The name of my dish suggests a Sardar on diet or a slim Sardar. But I made these Chole for me health-conscious husband, he really loved it.
 
 





Ingredients:
 
Kabuli channa (chick peas) - 2 cups
Moti illaichi (brown cardamoms) - 2
Laung (cloves) -  3 to 4
Onion - 1 large finely chopped
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Channa masala - 3 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - ½ tsp
Garam masala - ½ tsp 
Dhania powder -  4 tsp
Imli (tamarind) pulp or squeeze out pulp from 1" ball of tamarind -  3 tsp
Kasuri Methi - a generous pinch
Chaat Masala - ½ tsp

Method:
  1. Soak the channas overnight.
  2. Put the soaked channas in a pressure cooker. Add 4 cups fresh water. Add finely chopped onion, moti illaichi, laung, garlic paste and ginger paste. Pressure cook to give 1 whistle and keep on low flame for 15-20 minutes.
  3. After the pressure drops open the cooker. Add salt, dhania powder, channa masala, jeera powder, garam masala, black pepper, red chilli and the tamarind pulp to the cooked channas. Mash the channas a bit.
  4. Again pressure cook to give 1 whistle. Remove from fire.
  5. Add Kasuri Methi & Chaat Masala

Tips:
  • Serve hot with puris or rotis
  • Channa is very good source of protein so can be given to kids as well

 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Shahi Cookies - Cookies with Indian flavours

Hi... usually my husband needs to snack while having his cup of tea or coffee.. Whenever I go to grocery store.... I forget to buy biscuits for him.. This time I thought of making cookies.... It turned our really well...










Ingredients:

Flour (Maida) - 1 cup
Unsalted Butter - 5 tbsp (softened)
Powdered Sugar - 1/2 cup
Pistachios (unsalted) - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Almonds - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Cashews - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
Saffron - a pinch (soaked in 1 tbsp of warm milk)
Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:
  1. Pre-heat oven at 170 degrees
  2. Cream butter & powdered sugar till sugar is dissolved
  3. Mix all nuts together and add 3/4 of the mixed nuts to butter-sugar mix
  4. Add saffrom milk & cardamom powder.
  5. Add Flour to the mix and knead to a soft dough
  6. Cool it for 5 mins & make small balls.
  7. Flatten each ball, lay it on butter paper of baking tray
  8. Sprinkle & press few mixed nuts on top of each flattened ball
  9. Bake it for 30 mins till the cookie turns light brown in colour
  10. Move to wire rack to cool & store in air tight box once it is completed cooled
Tips:
  • Best way to nuts to children who do not eat nuts
  • Baking time may vary from oven to oven