Easy Banana Cake

This is a simple banana cake, your kids will surely love it, I've just given the recipe for Banana cake, you can top it with any whipped cream or even honey.

Ingredients
125g Butter
2 ripe Bananas 
1/4 cup Milk
1 1/4 Self Raising Flour
1 Egg
3/4 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 cup Walnut (optional)

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degree C), grease the loaf pan or any baking pan with butter.
• Cream butter, sugar and egg. 
• Sift flour and baking powder.To the creamed butter mixture, add Milk and flour.
• Add Vanilla and mashed Banana and Walnut to the mixture.(Do not over-mix)
• Pour the cake mixture in the greased pan, bake for 25-30 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center and comes out clean.
• Banana Cake is ready to be served.

Note

• Can be served with Vanilla Ice cream, whipped cream or any toppings of your choice.
• Coat the walnut with 1 teaspoon of flour and then add to the mixture, so that it won't get settled down.

Garlic Bread

Garlic Bread complement any Italian meal. But whenever i prepare any type of noodles, i prepare this. I have it in the tea time :p.

Ingredients
1 whole French loaf or any bread of ur choice
6 tablespoon Unsalted Butter (softened)
3-5 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Oregano or mixed herbs(my choice)
3 Green chilies
2 tablespoon chopped Parsley
Salt

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degree C), finely chop the garlic or just crush it and also finely chop the chilies.
• In a small bowl mix all the above ingredients. Cut the bread into 2 inch thick slices, not slicing all the way through.
• On a baking sheet or a aluminium foil, arrange the bread and spoon the butter mixture into each cut evenly.
• Wrap foil tightly around the bread and bake until heated through, about 10 mins.
• Serve immediately.

Note

• Bake the garlic bread before serving meal, otherwise butter all the slices and wrap it and keep it in the refrigerator and increase the cooking time to 12 mins max.
• MY TRICK is after  spreading the butter mixture, sprinkle a few drops of water (very few) on the bread or wet your baking sheet and wrap it tightly and bake it, so that the bread won't become very hard to bite.
• Instead of oregano, i used mixed herbs which gave me excellent flavour.
• Instead of green chilies you can use finely ground  black pepper.
• Instead of Parsley i use Coriander leaves.

Plum Cake (Indian fruit cake)

This is the classic holiday fruit cake, it is a very special cake in Christmas eve, but all time fav for my sisters. This recipe is specially dedicated to my sister Sushika Priyadarshini and cute little rowdy Swathika. I was so nervous as this was the first time i tried to bake this cake but i wasn't able to believe myself because it was absolute success, i followed this recipe from one of my fav blog with some changes. When you read this recipe you may feel it is very difficult, but this takes the usual time of baking a simple cake, only thing is you should get prepared the day before you bake this cake as it involves soaking of dry fruits.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Mixed dry fruits (Tutty frutty, dates, raisin, dry cherry etc.,)
1 cup nuts (Almonds, cashews) [Coat theses nuts with 1 tablespoon of flour)
1 cup Self raising flour
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt 
3 large Eggs
1/2 cup Butter
1 1/2 tablespoon Orange Zest
1/2 teaspoon Spice powder (Cinnamon and clove)
2 teaspoon Rum extract
1 teaspoon Vanilla essence
1 cup Orange juice (Approx)

For Caramel
1/4 cup Brown Sugar or white sugar
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup warm water


Method

• Get prepared the day before you bake this cake!
• Warm the orange juice by just keeping in low flame for a min and Soak the dry fruits in orange juice, to that add the rum essence, soak atleast for overnight or few days, i soaked the dry fruits just the day before i prepared this cake, i.e 24 hrs.

• Heat pan in medium heat and add sugar and 1 tablespoon of water. When the sugar starts to caramelize, stir slowly. Sugar will slowly change its color from light brown to dark brown, in this stage switch off the stove and pour the warm water and let it cool completely.(Please be very cautious when you pour the warm water, it splutters all around. So don't stand near to your pan when you pour the warm water).

• Preheat oven 350 degrees F (Approx 175 degree C), grease loaf pan with a teaspoon of butter or use cooking spray.
• Cream the butter with sugar and then add the eggs and beat well with your hand mixer or mixer of your choice.
• To this cream add vanilla essence, cooled Caramel and beat well.
• Sift self raising flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spice powder.
• Add the flour mixture into the butter mixture slowly and fold it.
• Add the soaked dry fruits, orange zest and nuts and fold slowly.
• Pour into the greased pan and cook in the middle rack for 30-40 mins. (For me it took 38 mins).
• After it is cooked, allow it to cool for 15 mins and remove from the pan and let it cool completely in the cooling rack.
• Delicious Plum cake is ready to be served.

Note

• If you have excess orange juice which was used for soaking the dry fruits, you can add it to the cake, that is not more than 4 tablespoon.
• The alcohol (Rum essence) is evaporated while baking so this cake is safe for all ages. You can skip the Rum extract but definitely you won't get the exact plum cake flavor.
• Before pouring the cake mixture line a baking sheet in the loaf  pan as the baking time is longer.
• You can add or skip any nuts or dry fruits, it is all your choice.

Chicken Dry Roast (spicy)

This is very simple Chicken recipe, last weekend i was very confused with what to cook with chicken, just browsed and got some recipes and made some corrections, this recipe is really easy, saves your time.

Ingredients
1/4 kg Chicken
1 teaspoon light Soy sauce
1 teaspoon Chilly sauce
A pinch of ajinomoto (Optional)
1 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
1 Tablespoon chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon Pepper powder
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
1/4 teaspoon Cloves powder
A pinch red food color
Salt and oil
Coriander leaves for garnish

Method

• Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan and saute the chicken till the color changes.
• Then add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off.
• Turn the heat to low and add both sauces, chilly powder, ajinomoto, cinnamon and cloves powder and salt.
• No need to add water, if you feel the chicken is too dry, add 2 tablespoon of oil or you can add 1/4 cup of water.
• In a tablespoon of water mix the food color and add it to the Chicken.
• When the Chicken is well cooked, and all the water is evaporated add pepper powder and saute for a min.
• Garnish with Coriander leaves and serve hot.

Vinayagar Chaturthi Recipes

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, is the Hindu Festival celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvathi, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival. It is the day Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods. 

Here are some recipes prepared for Vinayagar Chaturthi. One of the fav sweet for Vinayagar is the Mothagam (in tamil), which is also my fav too;)

Vinayagar Chaturthi is on Sept 19th but I've Published these recipes in advance, so that the beginners can easily prepare these recipes. I've just listed the very important recipes for Vinayagar Charturthi, you can also prepare vadai and some sweet payasam.

Mothagam (Modak)
Pidi Kozhukattai
Sweet Appam
Kondai Kadalai Sundal (Chick peas)
Ellu Kozhukattai

Enjoy!! Happy Vinayagar Chaturthi!!!

Pidi Kozhukattai

Ingredients

1 cup Rice Flour
1 cup Jaggery
4 teaspoon Moong Dal
1/2 teaspoon Cardamon Powder
5 tablespoon Grated Coconut


Method

• Dry fry the Moong dal in a pan for 3-5 mins.
• Add water to cook the dal and allow it to cook for 10 mins
• After 10 mins add 2 cups of water and add the grated jaggery and stir well till the jaggery dissolves, then add the rice flour and mix it evenly.
• Then add the grated coconut and cardamon powder and mix well.
• Let this mixture cool, then make small balls and press it with your palm(as shown in the picture) and keep it in the greased idli plate and steam for 5-7 mins or till it is cooked.
• Pidi Kozhukattai is ready to be served. 

Sweet Appam

Sweet appam is very easy to make, this is prepared for most of the festivals in India.

Ingredients

2 cups Raw Rice
1 1/4 cup Jaggery
1/2 cup shredded Coconut
1 Ripe Banana
1/4 Cardamon powder
1 tablespoon Ghee
Oil

Method

• Soak rice for 2-3 hrs, Grind into smooth paste.
• Before removing from your grinder or food processor add shredded coconut, cardamon powder and ripe Banana.
• Grind till the ingredients is well mixed and forms a thick paste, add ghee to it.
• Heat oil in a pan, make balls with dough, and deep fry till golden brown.
• If you are not able to make as balls, take a tablespoon of the dough and pour this in oil and deep fry

Note
Instead of raw rice, you can use wheat flour instantly, add 2 tablespoon of rice flour and mix all the ingredients well and fry.

Konda kadalai Sundal

This is simple yet delicious sundal. The only point is that you have to soak this chick peas atleast for 4-6 hrs or for overnight.

Ingredients
1 cup white or black Chickpeas (Chana dal)
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 teaspoon Mustard
1/2 teaspoon urad dal
3-4 dry red Chillies broken into pieces
Curry leaves 8-10
3 pinches of Asafoetida/Hing
3 teaspoon Oil

Method

• Soak the chick peas for 6-8 hrs or over night
• Rinse the water from soaked Chick peas and add fresh water and pressure cook till it becomes soft.
• In a pan heat oil, add mustard seeds, when it splutters add urad dal, red chilies,  hing and curry leaves. Urad dal should turn golden brown.
• Add coconut, salt and  the tempering to the cooked dal. Stir well. 
• Sundal is ready.

Ellu Kozhukattai

Ellu Kozhukattai is like the same process done for Mothagam, only difference is the stuffing and the shape, this is flat half moon shape as shown in the picture.

Ingredients for Stuffing
1/4 cup Sesame seeds(I used white, but black can also fine)
1/4 cup Jaggery
1/4 teaspoon Cardamon Powder

Method

• Prepare the dough as shown in Dough preparation.
• Fry the sesame seeds in a dry pan, fry till it splutters, and grind into fine powder without adding water.
• To this powder add the jaggery and cardamon powder.
• Grind well and make small balls (some time it will not be possible to make balls, just take a teaspoon full of stuffing).
• Grease your palm with oil and keep the dough and flatten it into round shape and keep the sesame ball in middle and close it and tighten the border of the dough with your fingers or with a fork. there shouldn't be any gaps. Seal it tightly.
• Keep these prepared kozhukattais in the greased idli plate and steam cook for 5 mins or till it is cooked.
• Ellu Kozhukattai is ready.

Mothagam (Modak)

This is the favorite sweet for Vinayagar, it is made with Rice flour and dal  jaggery stuffing. Mothagam is in round shape. There are lot of varieties of Kozhukattai. The main ingredient is rice flour, it is always good when it is done by homemade rice flour, if you do not have an option of preparing your rice flour at home, better get one kozhukatai mix or rice flour specially for kozhukattai. This one is mainly prepared on the day of Vinayagar Chaturthi.

Ingredients
1 cup Rice flour
1/2 cup Jaggery
1/2 cup chana dal
1/4 teaspoon Cardamon powder
1 teaspoon ghee.
Water

Method

• Heat 1 cup of water with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pour this into the rice flour and stir continuously so that there is no lumps formed.
• Knead into soft dough. Cover this dough with wet cloth.
• Meanwhile cook the chana dal till it become soft, coarse grind the cooked dal without adding water.
• Add the powdered jaggery or filtered liquid jaggery, cardamon powder, ghee to the dal and mix well, prepare small balls.
• Now take the prepared dough and make small balls.
• Grease your palm with oil and keep the dough in your palm and flatten into round shape, now place the dal jaggery ball on it and close it.
• Arrange all the prepared Kozhukattais on the greased idli plate and steam cook for 5 mins or till it is done.
• Kozhukattai is now ready:).

Note

It is always advisable to melt the jaggery with one teaspoon of water and strain it, so that the dirt can be removed, even if it is like a thick liquid, no problem you can add it to the dal.

Chicken Gravy (For parotta)

This is restaurant style gravy, mainly for parotta, can be used for rice and chappathi, but best side dish for parotta. Very simple and delicious too.

Ingredients
1kg Chicken
1 Onion
2 Tomatoes
3 Cardamon
3 Cloves
5 inch Cinnamon
1 Star anise
1 Bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
8-10 Curry leaves
Sesame Oil
Salt 
Red food color(optional)
Coriander leaves

1st Masala
1 tablespoon Coriander seeds
1 tablespoon Cumin seeds
8-10 Red Chilies
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
4 inch Ginger
6 Cloves Garlic
10-15 Curry leaves
1/2 Onion

2nd Masala
1/4 cup coconut
6 Cashews
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds(optional)
1 1/2 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 Cardamon

Method

• Chop the onions and tomatoes and keep it aside.
• Grind the 1st masala into fine paste, for the 2nd paste soak the cashew in water for 15 mins(if possible) and then grind into paste.
• Heat Sesame oil in a pan and saute onions and then the tomatoes.
• After it becomes gooey, add the 1st masala and fry until the raw smell goes off, it may take 10-12 mins.
• Then add the Chicken and saute for couple of mins and add 3 cups of water and salt, allow the chicken to cook.
• Keep it in low flame when the chicken is cooked,  add the 2nd masala and allow it to cook for 10 mins.
• Add red food coloring in 2 tablespoon of water and pour this into the gravy.
• Once the raw smell goes off, heat sesame oil in a small pan and add 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, cardamon, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf and curry leaves and pour this tempering to the gravy.
• Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Note

• If you do not have sesame oil, you can use the regular oil which you use for cooking.
• If the gravy is less spicy, you can add 2-3 chopped green chilies at the time you pour your tempering.
• Try to prepare this dish 3 or 4 hrs before hand, the taste will be very much better than preparing and having immediately.
• If you are not using food color, then add turmeric powder.
• Instead of Chicken, you can add Paneer.

Jam Butter Cookies

One of the easiest cookie recipe, kids will surely love it. 

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup jam (Any flavor)

• Method
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, white sugar, large egg and egg yolk.
• Mix in flour a little bit at a time until soft dough forms.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls or any size of your choice. 
• If the dough is too soft, refrigerate for 20-30 mins.
• Use your finger or an instrument of similar size to make a well in the center of each cookie.
• Fill the hole with 1/2 teaspoon of jam. Place it in a greased tray with 2 inches gap.
• Bake 10-12 mins in the preheated oven, or until golden brown on the bottom.
• Remove from cookie tray to cool on wire racks.
• 
  

Beetroot Rice

Beetroot is a rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium and vitamin C, and betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health and also protect against liver disease.
When i was searching for variety rice randomly, i got this recipe, made some modification and did it. Different variety rice, worth trying it:).

Ingredients
1 cup grated Beetroot
1 1/2 cup rice
1/2 cup onions
8-10 curry leaves
Oil and salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

For Grinding
3 cloves
2 inch cinnamon
6-8 Red chilies
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup tomatoes
3 tablespoon Coconut
1 inch ginger
3 garlic cloves

Method

• Grind all the ingredients under 'for grinding'.
• In a deep bottom pan or in a pressure cooker, heat oil and add cumin seeds, chopped onions, curry leaves.
• When onions turn golden brown, add the grated Beetroot, fry for 2 mins and add the masala and saute for atleast 8-10 mins.
• Add sufficient water for rice to cook, add rice and salt.
• Serve hot with chips or raitha.

Note

• You can separately boil rice and just mix with the cooked masala and allow it to cook for 5 mins.

Mutton Soup (Aattu yelumbu soup)

This Mutton soup is very simple to cook and also you will feel very refreshing after having this soup.

Ingredients
250g Mutton Bones (with a bit of meat)
1 cup Shallots
1/2 cup tomatoes
1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 tablespoon pepper powder
8-10 Curry leaves
1 tablespoon fennel powder
Coriander leaves for garnishing
oil and salt 

Method

• In a pressure cooker or deep bottom pan, add mutton, chopped shallots, chopped tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, curry leaves, salt and sufficient water.
• Pressure cook for 15-20 mins( if it is ordinary pan, it may take more time).
• In a separate pan, add 2 tablespoon oil and when it is heated add the fennel  powder and also curry leaves, pour this tempering into the soup and add pepper powder and garnish with coriander leaves.

Note

• Cooking time may vary according to the meat, this is the average time.
• Instead of pepper, you can add chili powder, which should be cooked with meat.

Angel Hair Pasta (Stir-fry)

Angel hair pasta is a very light pasta, it goes well in soup, my version of angel hair pasta recipe is simple stir fry using some sauces, but very quick to prepare and we had with cucumber salad. This recipe is very spicy one, if you do not wish to have that much spicy, you can reduce the quantity of it.

Ingredients
200g  Angel hair pasta
2 onions
5 cloves garlic
1/2 cup mixed vegetables(beans, carrot, capsicum)
150g Boneless chicken(optional)
3 eggs slightly beaten
2 tablespoon chili sauce
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar or honey
4 tablespoon  red chili flakes
1 teaspoon butter
Spring onions, for garnishing
Olive oil and salt

Method

• Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to the direction on package, drain and set aside, for me it took 5 mins.
• Heat oil in a pan, once hot add the chopped onions and saute till it turns transparent.
• Add garlic and cook for a min, then add the chopped mixed vegetables and cook for a min.
• Add chicken pieces and stir continuously until it is well cooked.
• In a seperate pan, scramble the egg and combine with veg mixture.
• Add the cooked pasta, mix well and add salt, soy, chili sauce and brown sugar.
• Cook for another 3 mins and add 4-5 tablespoon of red chili flakes and 1 teaspoon of butter and cook for another min.
• Garnish with spring onions (optional).

Note

• Instead of chicken, you can add shrimps, which gives you excellent taste.
• Red chili flakes is nothing but, just grind the dry chili  coarsely, and also adjust the quantity according to your spice level.( my version is extra spicy one).

Pudina Rice (Mint rice)

Here is the simple and delicious Pudina rice, very easy to make and gives you a good flavor too.

Ingredients
2 cups Basmati rice( or any rice of your choice)
1 Onion
1/2 cup pudina leaves
1/4 cup Coriander leaves
5-7 green chilies
4 tablespoon grated Coconut
2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
Small piece of Cinnamon
2 Cloves
1 Cardamon
1 Bay leaf
Oil and Salt as required

Method

• Wash and rinse rice, chop onion.
• Grind pudina, coriander, green chili and coconut to fine paste.
• In a heavy bottom pan, pour 4 tablespoon of oil, add cinnamon, cardamon, cloves and bay leaf.
• When it splutters add the onion and saute till it turns transparent and add the ginger garlic paste, fry till the raw smell goes off.
• Add the pudina paste and fry for a couple of mins and add salt.
• Add 3 cups of water and the rice. It takes the usual time to cook the rice.
• Serve hot with any raitha or chips.

Note

• You can separately cook the rice and the masala, so that you can mix it and serve, but cooking together will be a better option.
•  If you do not like basmati rice, you can cook with any rice of your choice, water ratio changes according to the rice.
• 5-7 green chilies is average spice level, you can reduce or increase the number of your choice.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate chip banana bread is a classic one. The best way to use your over overripe bananas. It is moist and easy to make.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
1 cup White sugar
2/3 cup Butter
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1 cup mashed Banana
1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Method

• Pre-heat the oven to 350°F
• Grease and flour a  8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan or use a baking spray to grease.
• In a bowl Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
• In a large bowl cream the butter with sugar and then add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat with a hand mixer or any mixer of your choice.
• Add the flour and mashed bananas and stir well.
• Add the choc chips and stir. (Do not overmix).
• Pour this mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center and comes out clean.
• Cool the loaf pan for about 15 mins., then turn out and cool completely.
• Chocolate chip banana bread is ready to serve:).

Note

• 1 cup mashed banana is approx 3 bananas, mash it with a fork, do not over mash it, as it may become watery.
• If you really want to avoid butter, you can substitute with 1/2 cup vegetable oil.