Banana and Dates Muffins

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Banana and Dates Muffins are tender, moist and a perfect treat for anytime of the day.

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas

3/4 cup flour    

2 tbsp corn flour

1/4 cup dates, chopped           

1/2 cup powdered sugar          

1/4 cup sunflower oil

4 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda     

For topping: (optional)

1 tsp brown sugar

Few banana slices

2-3 dates, finely chopped

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 deg C.
• Shift together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix in corn flour and sugar.
• In a small bowl, mash bananas well with fork or grind into a paste.
• Add oil, milk to banana mixture and mix well.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture. Add in chopped dates.
• Mix well, making sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Line the muffin cups and spoon the batter to 3/4 th of it.
• Mix ingredients for the topping and sprinkle on each muffin cup.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes and a toothpick inserted in centre comes clean.
• Invert on wire rack and cool completely.

Veggies with Spring onion Crumble

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Delectable and healthy baked dish full of veggies with spring onion crumble….Bon Appétit  !!!

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups Mix veggies, chopped

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp red chilli sauce

1 tsp dried herbs

1 tsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1/4 cup grated cheese

For the crumble:

4-5 spring onion stalks, chopped

1 bread slice

1 clove garlic

1 green chilli

Salt to taste

1/2 tbsp oil

Method:

• Wash and chop all the vegetables. Blanch few veggies like potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.
• In a bowl mix together mayo, chilli sauce, dried herbs, oil and salt.
• Add veggies to the bowl and mix till well coated with mayo dip.
• Grind all the ingredients together for the crumble.
• In a baking dish, spread layer of veggies at the bottom.
• Cover with spring onion crumble and add grated cheese over the top.
• Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for 15-20 min or till cheese melts.
• Serve hot.

Baked Potato Soup

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Yummy and filling soup prepared from baked potatoes, a must try in the season ...

Ingredients:

4 medium potatoes, chopped 

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1 medium onion, chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chilli flakes

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup milk

1 cup vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

2 tsp butter

Method:

• Preheat oven at 220 deg C. Grease a baking tray.
• Mix in salt, ½ tsp chilli flakes and 1tsp oil with chopped potatoes and keep aside for 5-7 min.
• Spread potatoes evenly on baking tray and bake for 20-25 min.
• Flip potatoes to other side after 10 min to get evenly baked. Keep aside when done.
• Heat oil+butter in a pan. Add bay leaf, onions and ginger-garlic paste, cook for a min.
• Add in tomatoes, salt, pepper and chilli flakes; cook covered for 2 min.
• Now add baked potatoes and vegetable stock. Cook for 5-7 min.
• Cool and grind to a smooth mixture. Transfer to the pan.
• Mix in enough milk and cook for 1-2 boil. Turn off flame.
• Serve hot with croutons.

Whole-wheat Bread Loaf

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Healthy Whole-wheat bread recipe with olive-onion topping…

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup warm milk

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp yeast

1 ½ tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

For Topping: (optional)

Few onion strips

3-4 olives, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

Method:

• Mix milk, yeast and sugar together in a bowl, keep it in a warm place for yeast to activate for 5-7 min.
• In another bowl, shift flour and add salt; add in yeast mixture and half of oil to it.
• Now using enough water and oil, knead a soft and elastic dough.
• Place the dough in a oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size at least for 1 ½ hours.
• Punch the dough down and place to the floured board. Knead for another few min then shape into a loaf .
• Add the toppings and place in greased loaf tin; keep covered for another 30 min.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 190 deg C for 20- 25 min.
• Take the bread out of the tin; it should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• Allow it to cool thoroughly on a wire rack before slicing.

Smoked Macaroni Pie

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Treat yourself with macaroni in pie form with smoky flavor…

Ingredients:

2 baked pie case

1 cup boiled macaroni

1 cup white sauce

½ cup cheese

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 cup chopped onions & capsicum

2 inch charcoal piece

2 tsp melted butter

1 clove garlic, crushed

Method:

• In a pan, heat 1 tsp butter and add garlic, saute till light brown.
• Mix in boiled macaroni and white sauce with salt & pepper.
• Hold charcoal with tongs and heat directly over flames from all sides. It will turn red hot.
• Place it in a small bowl and keep the bowl in center of cooked macaroni.
• Drop butter over hot coal and cover with lid for 2-3 min.
• Spoon the smoked macaroni in pie cases and add chopped capsicum and onions.
• Sprinkle grated cheese and some tomato ketchup.
• Bake till cheese melts and serve hot with any soup.

Linking to “New U – 2014” 
     

Whole-wheat and Oats Cookies

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Healthy and crispy cookies prepared with whole-wheat flour, oats and tutti-frutti….

Ingredients:

60 gm wheat flour

60 gm oats

70 gm white butter

55 gm sugar

1 tbsp custard powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

3-4 tbsp tutti frutti

2 tbsp milk

Method:

• Grind oats to a coarse powder. Add to shifted flour and baking powder.
• In a bowl, cream the butter by adding 1 tbsp sugar at a time till light & fluffy.
• Add milk and mix well.
• Add in dry ingredients and gently mix with light hands into form dough.
• Fold in tutti frutti. Roll dough into a log and wrap in foil and keep in fridge for 20 min.
• Divide the log into equal sized rounds (appox.10-12) and place on greased baking tray.
• Bake in preheated oven at 170 deg. for about 12-15 min. (keep watch after 10 min.)
• Remove and cool on wire rack.

Cottage Cheese and Spring onion Tarts

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Cottage cheese and Spring onions filled tarts, topped with cheese is simply delicious.

Ingredients:

For the tarts (make 8-10)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

2-3 tbsp ice-cold water or just enough to combine

For the filling:

1 cup spring onion, chopped

100 gm cottage cheese, cut into small cubes

4-5 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup white sauce

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

For the tarts:

• Preheat oven to 200 deg C.
• Sieve the flour and a pinch salt together. Rub butter into the flour with finger tips till a crumbly mixture.
• Knead lightly with cold water to form dough. Wrap in a cling film and refrigerate for 15-20 min.
• Roll out tart dough into 1/4" thick. Cut into small tarts with cutter or any lid.
• Press into small tart shells and prick them with fork all over. Bake for 10-12 min.
• Once the shells are ready, keep aside to cool.

For the filling:

• Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and saute for a min. Add the spring onions and cook till translucent.
• Add cottage cheese and stir, add white sauce and mix well.
• Add salt and pepper and mix well. Turn off the flame.
• Spoon the filling into the tarts, sprinkle the cheese and bake for 5-7 min. and serve hot.

Dates and Almond Cake

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Enjoy winter breakfast with yummy and moist Dates and Almond cake….

Ingredients:

1 cup white flour

1/2 cup pitted dates + 1 tbsp chopped dates

2 tbsp crushed almonds

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp baking powder

Method:

• Grind together 1/2 cup dates, sugar and 1/4 cup milk and blend it to a smooth paste.
• Shift flour and baking powder in a bowl.
• Add the blended mix, oil, remaining milk and mix well with a spatula.
• Mix in almonds and dates in the batter. Preheat oven at 170 deg C.
• Pour batter in a greased baking dish and bake for 30-40 min; insert a fork through the cake and if it comes clean then the cake is done.
• Cut into slices and serve.

Buttermilk Scones

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Simple and easy-to-make Scones… can be enjoyed with a dash of butter or any dip.

Makes 6-7

Ingredients:

100 gm plain flour

2 tbsp cold butter

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried herbs

1/2 cup minus 2 tbsp buttermilk

Method:

• For buttermilk mix equal amount of water and curd and keep aside.
• Shift all the dry ingredients in the bowl.
• Rub in the butter with fingertips to get mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Gradually pour buttermilk and mix well to form a soft dough (use buttermilk as required)
• Roll out the dough about 1/2 inches thick and cut out rounds of 2 inch with a cutter.
• Bake at 200 deg C for 10-12 min or until golden.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Spicy Raisin Rock Buns

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Aromatic buns made with raisins, mix spices to be enjoyed with tea or coffee…..

Ingredients:

115 gm plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

45 gm brown sugar

1/4 cup raisins

1/8 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp mixed spice (grounded cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon)

25 ml sunflower oil

2-3 tbsp milk

Method:

• Shift flour and baking powder, and then stir in the sugar, raisins and mixed spices.
• Mix in oil and milk, stir into the mixture to make dough which just binds together.
• Preheat oven to 200 deg C, lightly grease baking tray.
• Make small rounds with light hands or just spoon the mixture on baking tray.
• Bake for 15-20 min until golden. Cool on wire rack.