Classic Vanilla Cupcake

Make sure to use pure vanilla for this recipe. Also use all the ingredients at room temperature.

Ingtsredien

All purpose flour- 1.5 cup

Baking powder -1 tsp.

Baking soda- 1/2 tsp.

Salt- 1/4 tsp.

Butter- 1/2 cup

Granulated sugar- 3/4 cup

large egg - 2

Milk- 3/4 cup

Pure vanilla extract- 1.5 tsp.

Method

Pre heat oven at 180 degree celsius and line a cup cake tray with paper cups.

Sieve the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt 3 times and set aside.

In a large bowl cream the butter with an electric whisk or you can use a stand mixer for this.

Add in the powdered sugar and beat till light and fluffy.

Seperate the egg yokes from the white.

Add the yokes to the butter sugar mixture and beat for 2 to 3 minutes.

In a seperate bowl whisk the egg whites till soft peaks are formed.

to the butter ,sugar egg yoke mixture add vanilla extract and mix well.

Add one third of the flour and half of the milk and mix gently and add the half of the remaining flour and rest of the milk combine it and finally add the remaining flour. Mix it gently.

Now add in egg whites very gently. 

Pour the batter using an ice cream scoop to the  paper cups and bake it in the oven for 20 to 22 minutes till a tooth pick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

You will get 16 cupcakes with the given amount.

Crunchy coconut cookies

Ingredients

All purpose flour- 250g

Salt - 2 pinch

Baking soda

Egg yolk-1

Cardamom powder-1/2 tsp.

Vanilla essence-1/2 tsp.

Lemon zest (grated)-1/2 tsp.

Butter -100 g

Powdered sugar-75 g

Method

Preheat oven at 180 degrees Celsius.

Take room temperature butter in a glass bowl and add powdered sugar. Cream it to light and fluffy.

Now add beaten egg yolk along with cardamom powder, vanilla and lemon zest and beat it again.

Sift the flour with baking soda and salt.  Add this to the butter mixture in batches until it is just combined.

Take lemon sized balls of the cookie dough gently press it on top. Keep the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave space between the cookies.

Bake it in the preheated oven for 20- 22 minutes.

                             

                                                      Almond biscuits

A batch of these delicious biscuits can be given to your dear ones during this x'mas. I have also made ginger biscuits this year which can also be used for the same purpose. I will  share with you the recipe shortly.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter- 150g
• Granulated sugar- 175g
• All purpose flour-150g
• Ground almonds-150g
• baking powder- 1/2 tsp.
• Egg-1
• Almond extract-1tsp.
• Whole almonds for topping each biscuits

Method

• Preheat oven at 180 degre Celsius.
• Sift flour, ground almonds and baking powder together.
• In a big bowl beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Then add egg and almond extract and beat till it is incorporated
• Mix the flour mixture and drop a table spoon of the dough unto a cookie sheet leaving space so that the biscuits won’t stick to each other while baking.
• Top each with an almond and bake it in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes.
• Cool it on a wire rack and enjoy!

                       

                                          Fruit & Nut Loaf

Comparatively healthy snack, which is loaded with dry fruits and nuts and just enough flour to bind it. In this recipe we don’t use oil or butter. It is very easy to make but needs an hour or a little more of baking time.

Ingredients

• All purpose flour/ Maida-  ¾ cup
• Baking powder- ¼ tsp.
• Baking Soda- ¼ tsp.
• Salt – ¼ tsp.
• Light brown sugar- ¾ cup
• Nuts of your choice (Cashews, Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts, Hazel nuts etc.)- 300g
• Dried fruits (Raisins, currants, apricot, mango, cherries, dates etc.)- 400g
• Eggs- 3 Nos
• Vanilla essence- 1 tsp.

Method

• Pre heat oven at 150 degrees Celsius. Grease and Line a (9”x 5”) loaf pan with baking sheet.
•  In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add sugar, dried fruits and nuts and rub with your finger to coat it with the flour.
• Whisk the room temperature eggs with vanilla for about five to six minutes until it gets a light color and becomes thick.
• Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Gently and evenly mix it.
• Transfer it to the greased loaf pan, spread it evenly and bake it in the preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes or a tooth pick inserted comes out clean. When it is cooled take out of the pan.
• This Loaf tastes best after 2 to 3 days.  Store it in an air tight container. It has a shelf life of about two weeks.

This curry has a slight sweet taste to it as raisins are used.  It goes well with pathiri, chappathy, bhatura,etc.

Ingredients

Chicken - 800g

Olive oil- 1 tbsp.

Almonds -15

Raisins- 1tbsp.

Onion - 3( medium size, sliced)

Ginger 1 inch, garlic 10 big cloves- Ground to a coarse paste

Coriander powder- 2 tbsp.

Chili powder- 1 tsp.

Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp.

Garam masala- 1/2 tsp.

Kasoori methi- 1/2 tsp.

Salt to taste

Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Method

Powder almonds and raisins together and add quarter cup of water and grind to a fine paste.

Heat oil in a pan and add onion and saute till it slightly changes its color. Add ginger garlic paste and curry leaves.

Stir for a couple of minutes and add coriander powder, Saute till the raw smell disappears.

Now add chili powder and turmeric powder and stir for 2- 3 minutes.

Add chicken stir well ,add salt and then add curd mixed with almond raisins paste.

Stir well and transfer it into a slow cooker., add one and a half cups of water.

Cook it on high for 3 hours. Add garam masala and kasoori methi mix well .

Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot.

                                Banana oats cake (without oil, sugar butter)

This is an easy and very healthy cake. You just have to measure everything and mix it in a big mixing bowl, that's it. 

Ingredients

Bananas - 3 ( big and very ripen ones)

Oats-350g

Roughly chopped dry fruits and nuts of your choice-350g

Egg- 1 (large)

Almond milk- 250 ml

Water- 250 ml

Vanilla essence- 1 tsp.

Baking powder- 1 tsp.

Salt -1 tsp.

Cinnamon powder_1 tsp.

Method

Preheat oven at 180 degree celsius.  In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas using a fork.

Add egg  beat well and then add almond milk, water, vanilla essence, salt and baking powder. Stir in oats and chopped dry fruits and nuts.

Chill it in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Transfer it into a well greased round 8 inch pan. Bake it in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or untill a tooth pick or a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

After 10 minutes turn the pan on a wire rack and take out the cake.