Green Peas Masala

This is an adaptation of my friend Sai's recipe.  Perfect to be had with pav, like misal. The measurement are all not very accurate and can be slightly varied.
This can be made with green peas (dried type ), or also as a mixed vegetable.

Ingredients :

Masala :

Coconut grated    : 2 tbsp
green Chillies       : 7 - 8 ( depending on choice)
ginger                   : 1 inch piece
garlic cloves          : 6
cinamom               : 1 inch
Cloves                   : 4
cardamom             : 1
cashews                 : 6 - 7 ( soak in water ) ( i also added two spoons of melon seeds)
coriander leaves     : a handful
mint leaves             : 1 tbsp
onion                       : 1 medium chopped
Ghee                        : 2 tsp

tamarind                  : 1 pea size
haldi                        : 1 pinch
garam masala          : 1  tsp
salt                           : as per taste
sugar                        : a pinch

oil                             : 2 tsp
tomato                       : 1 medium chopped
green vatana             : 1 cup soaked overnight and cooked.

Procedure :

1.   Masala : 
heat ghee in a pan, add the spices ( clove, cinamom, cardamom ) then add the garlic fry for a minute, then add ginger and chopped onion.
fry till light brown.  then add slit green chillies and fry for a minute.
Then add the coriander leaves and mint leaves.  fry for another minute.
Add coconut and switch off gas.  add haldi powder and half the garam masala.
cool a bit and grind to a smooth paste with the soaked cashews and tamarind.

2.  In a pan , add oil and then the chopped tomato.  fry till the tomato is a bit soft.
3.  Add the masala, and fry , add the cooked vatana, salt and sugar.  Add some water to adjust the consistency.  let it boil .  add the garam masala and mix well

Notes : can add potatoes and or cauliflower and or carrots.  keep the vegetables a bit crunchy.
             can also make the masala and freeze it and use when required.

Coffee Chocochip bundt cake

This is the first Bundt cake I tried.  This can also be baked in a loaf tin.
The recipe is from my friend Sai's blog (Geeths Dawat).  It has my favourite flavours of coffee and chocolate in a cake.  Perfect for tea time or anytime.

Ingredients :

Plain flour or self raising flour   :  1 1/2 cup ( used self raising flour)
Baking powder                           :  1/2 tsp
Baking soda                                :  1/4 tsp
Salt                                             : 1/2 tsp
Unsalted butter                           : 1/2 cup (at room temperature)
Vanilla or plain sugar                  : 1 cup    (powdered)
Eggs                                            : 2
Buttermilk                                   : 100 ml  ( refer Notes)
Vanilla Essence                           : 1 tsp
Instant Coffee pwd                      : 1 tsp  ( Nescafe)
Warm water                                 : 1 tsp
Chocolate Chips                          : 1/4 cup
Cinnamom pow                           : 1 tsp  (optional)

Procedure :

1.  Preheat oven 10170 deg C.
2.  Grease and flour a six cup bundt pan or prepare a baking tin.
3.  Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4.  Mix together instant coffee powder and warm water and keep aside.
5.  Cream together butter and sugar.  beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla essence and
     coffee mixture.
6.  Add flour and buttermilk in 3 lots and beat on low speed.
7.  Mix the chocolate chips with a tsp of flour and fold into the mixture.
     Mix in the cinnamom powder.
8.  Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 50 - 60 minutes or till done.



Notes :  
to make100 ml  buttermilk : Mix  50 ml milk and 50 ml curd, till smooth.

German Chocolate Cake

Got this recipe from one of my fb food groups. (Rajeshwari Annamalai ,Ovenderful Mom Bakers Community) This is a healthy whole wheat recipe.  it is also an eggless cake recipe.  The cake is super soft and delicious and is very easy to make.

Ingredients

whole wheat flour  : 1 1/2 cups

cocoa pwd              : 1/4 cup

baking soda            : 1tsp

caster sugar            : 1 cup 

(or cane sugar)

oil                           : 1/3 cup

water                       : 1 cup

vinegar                    : 1 tsp (used Apple cider vinegar)

vanilla                     : 1 tsp

salt                           : 1 pinch (did not use)

Procedure  :

1.   Sieve flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt thrice.

2.   Dissolve sugar in water and add vinegar.

3.   Mix oil and vanilla.

4.   Preheat oven at 180 deg and prepare a cake tin.

5.   Add flour mixture to the oil sugar solution and combine till smooth.

6.   pour the cake batter into ṭhe prepared tin and bake for 40 min or so.

Frosting :

milk                   1 cup

coconut milk     1/3 cup

corn flour          1/3 cup

caster sugar       1/2 cup

vanilla               1 tsp

coconut flakes   1 3/4 cup

chopped walnuts     3/4 cup ( or pecans)

procedure :

1.  mix all ingredients except coconut and walnuts. there should be no lumps.

2. boil till it thickens ( takes a few minutes).

3. Stir in coconut and walnuts.

4. Allow to cool ( lukewarm).

5. Spread evenly on cake.

Daliya / broken wheat upma

Ingredients : seasoning : oil , rai, curry leaves. (Optional : clove and cinamom)

Daliya : 1 cup

Mixed vegetables chopped (beans , carrot, capsicum, peas) : 1cup

Salt : to taste 

Vangibath pwd : 2tsps

Lemon juice : 1 tsp 

Coriander leaves chopped fine : 2 tsp 

Water : 2 and a half cups

Method : dry roast the broken wheat till itchanges  colour.  Remove and wash.

In a pressure pan prepare theseasoning.  If you want you can add cashews now and roast for a minute till light golden brown.

Then add the vegetables ( you can add any vegetables of your choice ).

Saute for a minute .  Add the masala powder .  If you want you can add red chilli powder for added spice. 

Add salt and then the daliya.  Then add around   two and a half cups of water

.  Pressure cook for two to three whiatles.  ( i did three and then kept on sim for five minutes) .

Open when the pressure drops and mix well . Add lime and coriander !

Enjoy hot!!

Date walnut cake

Warm milk 11/4 cup

Dates pitted : 12

Sugar pwd : 3/4 - 1 cup

Baking soda :1 tsp

Cooking oil. : 1/2 cup

Maida : 1cup

Vanilla : 1/2 tsp

Cinammom pwd :1/4tsp

Walnuts : roasted and chopped : 12

Cocoa pwd : 2tsp (optional )

Method :

Soak dates (chop coarsely). In warm milk for about 20 minutes.

Sieve maida, cocoa, baking soda, vanilla and cinammom twice.

Blend the dates milk mixture.  

Add sugar (adjust as per taste)

Add oil and blend.

Mix in the dry ingredients . Add the walnuts.

Pour in a microwave safe dish and micro for around 6 -7 minutes !

Note : u can also use around 22 - 25 dates and omit the sugar ..
            if the mixture is very thick add a tablespoon of milk.
            can use whole wheat flour instead of maida.

Capsi onion jhunka / capsi onion besanwala

This was taught to me by maid in muscat, Sharada !

Delicious and easy to make !

Ingredients :

Capsicum : 2 medium cut medium pieces

Onion : 1 medium cut into same size as capsicum

Besan : 2-4 tbsp dry roasted

Salt

Haldi 1tsp

Jeera pwd : 1tsp

Dhania pwd :2tsp

Red chilli pwd : 1tsp as per taste

Garam masal : 1 tsp

Lime juice : 1tsp

Coriander leaves : finely chopped 2 tsp

Tadka

Oul

Rai, jeera red chillies

In a pan prepare the tadka .

If using oinions add onions and frybtill light brown.

Then add capsicum and dry till almost done.

Then add the masalas and cook for a minute. (Can add finely chopped greens if required).

Check seasoning and add lime juice.

Finally add the besan and mix well . Cover and cook for two minutes.  Serve hot. 

Methi dal

One of my fave dishes and is very easy to make ! 

Ingredients :

Moong dal : 1 cup

Methi leaves : 1 bunch ( washed and chopped finely, can use stem too if render)

Green chillies : 4. -5 as per taste , chopped finely

Tomato : one medium chopped fine

Garlic : 6-8 pods chopped

Oil for seasoning and to fry methi leaves

Salt to taste

Lime juice :  1tsp

Haldi : 1/2 tsp

Wash the dal and keep aside

In a pressure pan take around 2 tsp ofoil  and when hot add the finely chopped methi leaves and fry for two to three minutes.

Then add the green chillies and fry for a minute.

Then add the dal and tomato and add around two to three cups of water.

Add haldi, salt and cover and cook . ( if pan switchboff before the whistle comes )

When pressure falls , open check seasoning and make it to desired consistency, can add lime juice now. Gove a boil and swirch off, then give a tadka of garlic and serve hot!