Wholewheat Carrot cake

This is 2 Layer cake. If u want one cake just take all the ingredients half the amount given.

Ingredients

Wholewheat flour - 4 cups
Grated carrot - 2 cups
Nuts (Almond) - as required (optional)
Cinnamon powder - 1/4 tsp (optional)
Egg - 2 (optional)
Oil - 1 and 1/4 cup (If butter, take 1 cup)
White sugar - 1 cup
Brown sugar - 1 cup or (white sugar - 2 cups)
Baking soda,powder - 1/4 tsp
Milk - 1 cup

For Decorating ( Optional)

Whipped cream - as required
Icing cream - as required

Steps

Preheat oven to 350F for 20 mins.

1. Mix Wholewheat flour,Baking soda,cinnamon powder in one bowl.
2. In another bowl mix well oil ,egg,sugar,milk with whisk or hand blender or in mixer.
3. Now slowly add oil,milk mixture to flour mix , beat it well using hand blender or whisk.

4. Finally add grated carrot and nuts.
5. This is 2 layer cake so divide mix into 2 and bake 2 cakes.It takes 15-20 mins depend on the oven for one cake.
6. Now apply whipped cream in one cake's top portion, keep another cake on that, then start applying whipped cream all over the cake.

7. Decorate it using icing.

Ennai Kathirikkai / Stuffed Brinjal

Ingredients

Brinjals - 6 to 8
Tamarind paste - 1 tsp or 2 inch piece
Salt,Turmeric powder, Oil ,Jaggery - as required

To Grind

Coriander seeds -2 tsp
Peanuts - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Sesame seeds (white) -2 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Pepper - 1 tsp
Channa dal - 2 tsp
Red chilli - 3 ,4 or as required
Cinnamon stick,bay leaves,Fennel seeds altogether - 1/2 tsp
Fresh coconut pieces - 4,5 or grated frozen - 2 tsp
Poppy seeds/Kas Kas ,Toor dal, Raw rice - 1 tsp altogether ( to make thick paste)


Steps

1. Roast all the given items in "To Grind" one by one in one tsp oil except coconut.
2.Grind  roasted items with coconut and salt to a smooth paste.
3. Cut brinjals like its shown in picture and started filling grinded masala.

4. Keep aside for 15 mins. Meanwhile mix tamarind paste with water or make juice from soaked tamarind.
5. In a Pan with 2 tsp oil fry brinjals carefully and slowly.
6.Once it get cooked, add tamarind juice and remaning masala to the pan, if needed 1/2 cup water also. Let this cook for 5,6 mins.Add little jaggery for taste and Adjust the salt if needed.

7. Garnish with coriander leaves. Nice side dish goes well with anything.

Methi Leaves dosa and Onion chutney

Methi Leaves Dosa


Ingredients

Rice - 400 gms or 2 cups
Methi leaves - 1 big bunch
Urad dal - 1 spoons
Salt - 1 tsp

Steps

1. Soak Rice,urad dal,Methi leaves for 4 hrs.
2.Grind those with salt nicely to dosa consistency. No need of fermentation.Start making dosa.

Onion Chutney

Ingredients

Big Shallots - 10-15
Tamarind - 1 inch piece or Tamarind paste - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli - 7,8 or as required
Garlic pods - 1 or 2
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Sugar or jaggery - 1/4 tsp

For Seasoning
Mustard seeds, Hing,Sesame oil - 2 tsps


Steps

1. Grind everything given in ingredients except jaggery to a smooth paste.
2. In a heavy bottom pan, season mustard seeds,hing in sesame oil or cooking oil. Sesame oil gives taste and nice aroma if u dont have it just use cooking oil.
3. Then transfer the onion paste into pan add 1/2 cup water let it boil till oil separates. Allow this chutney to boil approximately 15-20 mins. So that raw onion flavor will go.
4. Finally add 1/4 tsp jaggery or sugar,mix well and switch off. This is to enhance the taste and optional.

Baked Vegetable Samosa

 Ingredients

Mixed Vegetables - 1 1/2 cup or as required
Spring roll sheets or homemade samosa sheet (as required)
Ajwain/Omam, Jeera - 1 tsp
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp or as required
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp (optional)
Minced Ginger and Garlic  - 1 tsp
Onion - 1/2
Mint, Coriander leaves, Salt, Oil - as required

For chutney
Green chilli-3,Garlic-1,Mint leaves,Coriander leaves ,salt, lemon juice- 1/2 tsp.

Steps
Keep frozen spring roll sheets outside atleast for 30 mins.. and wrapped with wet paper towel or cloth so that it wont get too dry.
Pre heat oven at 375d F.


1.Boil mixed vegetables and mash it one and half by hand or blender.

2. In pan add some ajwain seeds and jeera in 2 tsp oil, Let it splutter.
3. Add minced garlic,ginger,onion and salt saute till it turns golden brown,then add chilli powder,coriander powder, mint leaves, coriander leaves, garam masala one by one. Saute till raw flavour goes out.

4. Let it cool and cut spring roll sheets like rectangle shape,, fill with masala and roll it by your choice like samosa or spring roll.
5. Arrange samosa in baking tray  brush  or spray same oil in top.

 6. Then keep it in preheated oven for 10-20 mins depends on the oven power. Once it done turn all the samosas then again bake it for 5 mins.

 7. Finally in "Broil" mode bake both sides not more than 2,3 minutes. This step is optional and just for getting crispy.

Chutney - Grind all the ingredients given in "For chutney" ,alter the spice level  if required.

Oats Pongal

Ingredients

Oats - 1 cup
Moongdal - 1/4 cup
Salt, Oil - As required

For seasoning

Jeera,Pepper, Curry leaves, Red chilli,Hing,Ginger -1/2 inch chopped

Steps

 1.  Dry saute moongdal in cooker for 2 mins add 1 cup water for 1/4 cup dal and let it cook until 4, 5 whistles.

2. Once it get cool down, add oats to the dal cook for 2 mins, water in the dal is enough if needed just add 1/2 cup. Then fry ginger, jeera,pepper, red chilli, curry leaves and hing add it to the cooked oats like"pongal".

3. Very simple and healthy delicious with coconut chutney.

Hydrebadi Dahi Bindhi Masala

This one i tried from http://chatkhor.blogspot.com/2008/09/savvys-hyderabadi-dahi-bhindi-masala-my.html with slight variation.

Ingredients

Bindhi/Okra - 1 cup (washed and cut)
Onion - 1 big (chopped)
Tomato - 1 big (chopped)
Ginger Garlic paste -1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp or as required
Coriander powder - 3 tsp or as required
Yogurt/Curd - 1/2 cup (well beaten)
Poppy seeds/Kaskas - 1 tsp (in Original recipe it was Cashew -5 pieces)
Coconut - 4 tsp or pieces (fresh)
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Kasoori methi - 1 tsp
Salt, Turmeric powder, Oil , Sugar (1 pinch) - as required

For Seasoning

Mustard seeds,Jeera,Red chilli,Curry leaves,Hing

Steps


1. Fry okra with 1 spoon oil and keep aside

2. Grind Coconut with soaked poppy seeds nicely and keep aside.
3. In pan with 3 spoons oil, fry onion with pinch of salt till it turn golden brown.
4. Add ginger garlic paste,turmeric powder, salt,chilli powder, coriander powder,garam masala,kasoori methi saute 1 min then add tomato and immediately add 1/2 cup water so that masalas dont get burn. 
5. Let it cook for 5 mins then add grinded coconut again cook for 3 mins.

6. Now add curd and stir well.
7. After 2 minutes add fried Okra, 1 pinch sugar.
8. In small pan fry mustard seeds,jeera,hing,curry leaves and red chilli then finally add this seasoning to the gravy.

Goes very well with chapati,naan.

Oats Vegetable Upma

Ingredients

Oats - 1 cup
Chopped vegetables (Beans,carrot, frozen peas) - 1/2 cup or as required
Green chillies - 2 (cut into half)
Chopped Onion - 1/2  big onion 
Salt, Oil - as required
Water - 1/2 cup (should be half amount of oats if oats-1 cup water - 1/2 cup)

For Seasoning

Mustard seeds, Urad dal,Curry leaves

Steps

1. Sprinkle some water in oats mix well and keep side. It helps to get soft texture.

2. In pan season with oil,mustard seeds and curry leaves.
3. First add onion saute for a minute or two then add chillies,vegetables.
4. Then after 2 min add water and salt wait till veggies get half cooked.

5. Finally add oats and saute it well for 2 mins.Garnish with coriander leaves.

Note:Amount given is sufficient for 2 people. If you want more double the ingredients.

Fruit Cake

Ingredients

2 cups Bisquick all purpose baking powder ( I have used this, you can use Plain all purpose flour/Maida with 2 tsp of baking powder and 1/2 baking soda .. Bisquick has baking agents so i didnt add it)
1/2 cup White granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar ( If you dont have brown sugar just add 1 cup of white sugar instead of 1/2)
1/2 cup soft white butter
1/2 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup fruit pieces(small dried fruit pieces in container  available in stores)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder or vannila essence ( Optional)

Steps


Preheat oven to 375d F.

1. In a bowl, take bisquick mix with cinnamon powder if u have (or) all purpose flour mix with baking powder and soda.



2. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars till creamy then add milk beat it well , i just take all in blender and blend it well.


3. Now mix bowl 2 mixture with bowl 1 with no lumps. Finally add small fruit cakes (tutti frutti) and gently fold until it combined.
 

4. Pour batter into the loaf pan then bake for 25-35 mins depends on the oven or bake until with toothpick insert into cake comes out clean.

5. Allow the cake to cool then slice.

WholeGreen Moong dal Dosa / Pesarratu

Ingredients

Whole moongdal - 2 cups
Rice - 2 tsps
Green chilli - 4 nos
Ginger  -  1/2 inch
Onion  - 3 shallots or 1/2 big onion
Salt  - as required


Steps

 1. Soak Moongdal and rice overnight.
2. Grind dal and rice with green chilli, ginger, onion , salt in dosa batter consistency.

 3. Then make dosas. Its a Healthy and fiber rich dosa.

Easy Poori Masala / Potato Gravy

Ingredients 

I used 1 Small boiled potato, 1 Medium size onion, 1 tomato, 2 Green chilli, 1tsp Chilli powder, 1 tablespoon besan, 2 garlic pods, 1 inch ginger,Salt,Turmeric, Coriander leaves - as required

 For seasoning

Mustard seeds, Urad dal , Chana dal, Red chillies, Curry leaves,Oil

Steps

1. In a kadai in 2 teaspoons oil season the gravy with Mustard seeds, Urad,channa dal ,red chilli and curry leaves.

2.Add the chopped onions, ginger garlic,green chillies,salt then saute nicely finally the tomatoes. When they are sauted well add the chilli powder, turmeric powder ,cooked potates finally 1 cup of water.

 3.Meanwhile mix the besan with water needed.  Reduce the flame once the gravy starts boiling. Add the besan then cook for 10 minutes in low fire.We add besan to make gravy to a nice consistency. Garnish with Coriander leaves.

 Goes very well with Poori,Chapathi and Dosa.

Paneer Tikka (Tandoori Style)

Ingredients

Paneer - 10 to 12  one inch cubes (or as required)
Capsicum - 1 no (cut into squares)
Onion - 1 no (Cut into squares)
Curd  - 3 tablespoons
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Ajwain (omam) - 1 tsp
Tandoori masala,Lemon Juice ,Besan- 1 tsp (optional)
Chilli powder - 1 tsp (accd to spice level)
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Salt, Oil , Turmeric,Bamboo sticks (avail in dollar shops) - as required


Steps
Preheat the oven at 425 degree F .

1. Sprinkle pinch of salt in paneer,onion and capsicum  mix it roughly and keep aside.

2. In a bowl mix all spices,powders including salt,oil with curd/yogurt.

3. Then add paneer,onion,capsicum and mix it well . I mentioned besan is optional but if we add it is used to coat veggies well. Keep this marinated bowl in refrigerator for 20-40 mins.

4. Then in bamboo stick arrange paneer , onion, capsicum one by one.

5. Sprinkle oil in tray/Aluminum Foil  arrange this bamboo sticks again sprinkle some oil over veggies.
6. Rotate the sticks every 2,3 mins until it turns golden brown (depends upon the oven it will take 20-40 mins but if you want it quickly after 20 mins set oven into broiler mode and keep rotating the stick every 2 mins until it turns brown). If u dont want crispy black/brown turned paneer then continue in 400deg F until it get cooked.

Note : Capsicum and onion tastes like half cooked and grilled. If you dont like the raw taste then sprinkle little oil in capsicum and onion then keep in microwave for 1 min before u transfer veggies in yogurt mix.