Healthy Oats Bar- No Sugar, No Butter, No Flour.... Just healthy

Today i made healthy Oats bars with banana. And they have no added sugar, no added butter and no added flour. Just the plain and healthy goodness of oats, banana, almonds and raisins.

Oats and Banana Bar

 Ingredients:
2 large over ripe bananas, mashed till almost liquidy
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup almonds roughly chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

Ready to go into the oven

 Method-
1. Mash the bananas well in a bowl till almost liquidy.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well till a very thick mixture is formed and all are mixed evenly.
3. Grease a baking tray with 1/2 tbsp olive oil.
4. Spread the mixture evenly into the tray and smooth-en the mixture with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180C for about 30 minutes or till the crust becomes golden brown.
6. Take it out and let it cool before cutting.

My house is smelling of the goodness of baking banana

MALAI CAKE

This post is specially for my Princess for coming 1st in class. And now she has gone to Class II.
So she wanted to call all her neighborhood friends and throw a party for them at home. The menu was-
Mini Cheese Uthapams
Broccoli Cutlets
Water melon
Malai Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Here is the recipe for the Malai Cake (Egg less and Butter less Vanilla Cake)

Ingredients-
 Cake-
Malai- 1 cup
Milk powder- 1 cup
Powdered sugar- 1 cup
Maida- 1 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence- 1 tsp
Baking powder- 1 tsp
Baking soda- 1 tsp
lemon juice- of 1 lemon
Milk- 1/2 cup

 Chocolate Ganache-
Dark chocolate- 1 cup
Butter- 1/2 cup
Cream- 1/2 cup

Method-
1. Mix all the above ingredients with a hand blender or with a whisk.
2. Grease a cake tin and line with butter paper.
3. Pour in the batter and tap the tin to smoothen the surface.
4. bake for 30-35 minutes in an oven pre-heated at 180 C.
5. Turn down the heat to 120 C after 15 minutes of baking.
6. For the ganache, melt the butter and chocolate on a bain marie.
7. Mix in the cream and stir till smooth and well mixed.
8. When the cake is done, let it cool in the cake tin for 10 minutes.
9. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack till completely cooled.
10. Cut the cake in half and separate the two layers.
11. Spread ganche on the bottom layer.
12. Put the second layer of the cake on top of the ganache.
13. Spread the rest of the ganache on the top and on the side and cover properly.
14. Decorate with desired toppers or sprinkles.

Noodles pakora

Hey all, i know you all are angry with me for not posting for a last two months. But here i am back with a new recipe for you all.

I made this for my princess's tiffin. Now she has grown up and in a big school. 

Ingredients-

Boiled noodles- 1/2 cup

Red bell peppers, chopped- 3 tbsp

Besan- 5 tbsp

Spring onions, chopped- 5 tbsp

Salt- to taste

Water- as per requirement

Oil- for frying

                                        

Method-

1.Put all the vegetables and the noodles in a bowl and mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.

2. Add salt and check for seasoning.

3. Add the besan and add little water to make a thick mixture which is just coating the noodles and the vegetables mixture.

4. heat oil in a kadai.

5. Drop little spoonfuls of the noodles and besan mixture into the hot oil.

6. fry till golden brown and crispy.

7. Serve with Ketchup or mint chutney.

Note- You can add any vegetables that you like. I added red bell peppers as my princess does not like any other veggie with red bell pepper. It is just her favorite veggie.

Back with a Cheesecake Bang !!!!!

SORRY FOLKS!!!
Its been over a year and have not posted any thing on my blog, though have been baking and cooking a lot!!! Mr work was not letting me do any blogging.

SO here goes-----
something sweet to make all of you smile...........

Chocolate Cheesecake-

CRUST-
50 gms (1/4 cup) butter
20 whole wheat biscuits, crushed
1 tbsp sugar

FILLING-
1 packet(8 oz or 230 gms) Philadelphia cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp cocoa powder

Method-
1. For the CRUST- mix evenly the melted butter, crushed biscuits and the sugar.
2. Grease a pan for making the cheesecake. You could use a spring foam pan or a silicon cake mould.
3. Layer in the bottom of the pan that you will use for making the cheesecake. Press down tightly with the back of the spoon to form a smooth and even layer.
4. Put inside the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
5. For the FILLING- Mix the cream cheese and the sugar in a bowl till the mixture is smooth.
6. Add the lightly beaten eggs and mix well.
7. Then add all the other ingredients and mix well.
8. Pour over the crust.
9. Put in a pre-heated oven for baking at 250 C for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 175 C and bake for another 45 minutes.
10. Check the center with a cake tester and it should be set and not wobbly.
11. Let it cool in the over for 10 minutes and then cool till room temperature.
12. Cool in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours and serve chilled.

RAW BANANA & PANEER KEBAB

HHmmm its been really looong!!!!!!!!!!!

What can i say???????????

"How u doin????"

Hope all is well at your end..........

so here goes.........

Ingredients-

1 medium boiled potato, grated

100 gms paneer grated

2 small raw banana, boiled and grated

3 tbsp chopped coriander

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp black pepper powder or freshly crushed

salt to taste

Oil to shallow fry

4 tbsp breadcrumbs

Method-

1. Mix all the ingredients together except the oil.

2. Add the breadcrumbs, if the mixture is little too soft.

3. Take about 50 gms of the mixture and shape into long cigars.

4. In a non-stick pan, sprinkle a few drops of oil and heat through.

5. Put the kebab cigars and cook on all sides till golden brown on all sides.

6. Have it just like that as a kebab with mint chutney. Or roll it inside thin tortias with some shredded lettuce to make kebab rolls.

Zucchini & Potato Roesti with Mushroom Ragout

Today after so many days i felt like posting as my Boss is not in town. And that is treated like a working holiday. I knew about this yesterday when i was leaving for the day. Hence i made lunch for my colleagues today.

Zucchini & Potato Roesti:

Ingredients:

Potato- 2 large

Zucchini- 2 small or 1 medium

Salt

Crushed Black Pepper

Butter

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes and grate them.

2. Wash the zucchini and grate them.

3. Mix the grated zucchini and the potatoes together and mix salt and crushed pepper.

4. Squeeze out as much water from the mixture as possible with hands.

5. Heat a non-stick pan and melt some butter in it.

6. Make a small cake with some of the mixture and put in the pan.

7. Let it cook till golden brown on one side.

8. Flip over to the other side and add more butter.

9. Cook till golden brown on all sides and cooked through.

Mushroom Ragout:

Ingredients:

Olive oil- 1 tsp

Mushroom- 200 gms

Spring onions- 2 stalks

Red bell peppers-1/2

Salt

Crushed black pepper

Cheese-1 tbsp

Method:

1. Slice the mushrooms very thin.

2. Chop the red bell pepper and the spring onion finely.

3. In a pan add the olive oil and heat.

4. Add the spring onion and saute till turns bright green.

5. Add the mushrooms and saute till all moisture is evaporated.

6. Add the bell peppers and saute well.

7. Season with salt and pepper.

8. Add the cheese and mix well.

To Serve:

1. On a plate place a Roesti and spoon over some of the mushroom ragout.

2. Serve hot.

SPINACH AND BREAD BAKE

Of late, my chikoo's favourite veggie is spinach... And this is good and am happy for her.
So i made these spinach and bread bake for her lunch box today morning. And the good news it was all gone, hopefully into her stomach.

So here goes......

Ingredients-

Spinach- 1/2 bunch
Onion-1, small
Tomato-1, small
Salt- to taste
Pepper- to taste
Oil- 1 tbsp
Bread slices- 6
Cheese-4 tbsp, grated
Butter- to grease
Egg-2
Cream- 1 cup
Oregano=1/2 tsp

Method-

* Cut the sides of the bread slices and apply buter on one side.
* Grease 6 steel bowls or muffin tray.
* Wash and shred the spinach and chop the onion and tomatoes.
* In a pan heat the oil and saute the onion.
* Add the spinach and tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Keep aside.
* In a bowl, mix the egg, cream and cheese and season with pepper and oregano.
* Place the slice of bread in a bowl with the unbuttered side towards thebowl and let it take the shape of the bowl.
* Place little of the mixture in the centre of the bread bowl.
* Do the same with the other slices.
* Pour in the cream and egg mixture into all the six bowls.
* Put the bowls in a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven for 10-12 minutes or till the cream and egg mixture becomes solid and forms a golden brown crust.
* You can use any combination of veggies, but the veggies should be cooked to remove all excess moisture.

CORN AND BELL PEPPER CAKES

These are corn and bell pepper cakes which i made for my chikoo's tiffin box. I used red bell pepper because she loves it and asks me to buy it every time we go veggies shopping.

Ingredients-
2 nos boiled potatoes
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 onion
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 tsp oil

Method-

* Chop the onion and bell peppers finely.
* Mash the potatoes without any lumps.
* In a pan heat the oil and add the onion and saute till translucent.
* Add the corn and saute till soft.
* Add the bell peppers and saute till bright in colour.
* Season with salt and pepper and add the oregano and mix well.
* Add the vegetable mixture to the mashed potatoes and mix well.
* Add little of the breadcrumbs in to hte mixture and mix well.
* Form walnut sized balls and flatten into small cakes or patties.
* Coat with the breadcrumbs.
* Shallow fry the cakes. Or they can be even grilled on a non-stick pan without any oil.

She loved them so much that her tiffin box was empty, no little crumbs even.

You can even try these with other veggies if you like.

ALPHABET PASTA AND SPINACH FRITTATA

Ingredients-

2 nos eggs
1 tbsp grated cheese
1/2 cup boiled alphabet pasta
1 small onion, chopped
1 small tomato, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
10-12 spinch leaves, shredded
Salt to taste
Crushed black pepper to taste
1 tsp oil


Method-

* Beat the eggs with salt and pepper.
* In a non-stick pan, heat oil and saute all the vegetables for about 2-3 mins.
* Add the pasta and mix well.
* Then add the beaten egg and mix well.
* Let the frittata cook on the bottom on a low flame.
* When the bottom is cooked, sprinkle the cheese on top.
* Put the pan under the top heat of an oven and let the cheese brown and the rest of the frittata cook till done.
* If u dont have an oven , then just simply turn the frittata up-side down and let the other side also cook till done.
* Cut into wedges and serve with tomato ketchup.

NOTE- If u want , u can add any vegetables that u like. My angel likes spinach n red bell peppers and onions and tomatoes, hence have added these.
And the pasta can also change according to preference.

But for sure, the kids will love it.

CHEESE PARATHA

Today i gave cheese paratha to chikoo in her lunch box.

And it is very easy to make. And since kids love cheese and anything to do with cheese i'm sure there will be nothing in the lunch box when she returns.

Ingredients:

Cheese- 2 tbsp, grayed
Coriander-2 sprigs, chopped
Onion- 1 small, chopped
Salt- to taste
Pepper- to taste
Whole wheat dough- enough to make 1 paratha
Ghee- 1 tbsp


Method:

1. Mix the cheese, coriander and onion and season with salt and pepper.
2. Make a ball of the dough and flatten it out a little with your fingers and palm.
3. Stuff the cheese mixture into the flattened dough and make a ball again.
4. Roll the stuffed dough into a paratha.
5. Put on a tawa and apply ghee, cook till golden brown on both sides.
6. You can cut the paratha into triangles like a pizza and put in the lunch box.