1 ingredient ICE CREAM

A sweet treat for all.especially Banana lovers...a Guiltfree.Healthy and Quick recipe

Plain banana ice-cream

Adapted from Masterchef Australia,a recipe by Matt Preston

Large (ripe) Bananas - 2 to 3 (sliced )

Method : -

Place banana slices in a tray/plate and freeze them for 2 hours.
In a food blender put these banana slices(you might need to thaw them a little-for easy blending). 
Pulse bananas until you get ice-cream consistency.
(i made plain banana ice-cream as well as chocolate banana ice cream(by adding 2 tsp drinking chcocolate)

Chocolate banana Ice-Cream

My son Njoying -Chocolate Banana Ice-cream

Serve as soon as possible.

Note:- 

• its better to eat it immediately as it melt very fast.
• for yogurt banana ice-cream,just add 2 tbsp yogurt and blend together with frozen bananas. 
• You can reduce the banana after-taste with added honey/melted chocolate/peanut butter....etc(frankly speaking myself n my son found the chocolate flavoured  much much yummier than the plain one)

 

Healthy Pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour(atta)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 to 2 tsp cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup lowfat yogurt
1 cup nonfat milk (more to thin as needed)
4 tablespoon canola oil/any veg oil (plus more for greasing d pan)
2 large eggs

Method :-

1.  In a small bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.
2. Whisk together milk, yogurt, oil and eggs. Add dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.
3. Add more milk to make batter to your liking.
4. Brush oil onto preheated skillet or griddle. Use about 3 tablespoons batter per pancake.
5. Cook until pancake surface begins to bubble and a few have burst, about 1 - 2 minutes. 
6. Flip and cook 1 - 2 minutes more.

    Serve with Honey/ sliced fresh fruit/ nuts/ maple syrup....njoy!!!

Gobhi Masala

Cauliflower - 1 medium
Onion(chopped) - 2
Tomato(chopped) - 2
Garlic - 4 to 5 cloves
Ginger - 1/2 "
Green chilly(chopped) - 2
Peas - 1/2cup (optional)
Salt  - to taste
Haldi - 1/2tsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2tsp
Garam Masala - 1tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Cashew paste/Groundnut-Coconut Paste - 2 tbsp
Cooking Oil/Ghee - 2 tbsp
Milk - 1/2cup
Water - 1/2 cup to 1 cup

Method :-

1. Chop gobhi into small pieces,boil it with haldi n salt for 10 min or until gobhi is cooked. Drain water and keep aside gobhi pieces.
2. Heat Oil/Ghee in a  frying pan.Add garlic-ginger and green chillies.When garlic turns golden in color add onion,when onion is fully cooked add tomato.
3. Add haldi,red chilli powder and salt,mix well.Cook till tomatoes are soft.
4. Now add cashew paste/groundnut-coconut paste,milk and garam masala.Mix well.
5. Add water(enough for a gravy),coriander powder,peas and gobhi.
6. Stir until the gravy becomes little thick..it shouldn't be watery.

Garnish with coriander leaves..serve hot with roti.. njoy!!!

Pancakes

A Yummy,easy,quick n Spongy Breakfast...(bade ho ya chote sabhi ko pasand ayega)

 Basic pancakes

• 1 cup- self raising flour
• 2 tbsp- sugar
• 1- egg
• 3/4- cup milk
• 50g -butter/ghee, melted(to grease the pan)
• Vanilla ess- 1/4tsp (optional)

 

2

1

Method:

1. In a bowl mix flour and sugar.
2. Beat in the egg and then milk( a little at a time) until batter is smooth and lump-free.
3. In a hot pan or flat grill,  brush butter/ghee over cooking surface.
4. Pour 1/4 cup measures of batter for each pancake.Do not spread the batter..let it spread in the pan itself.
   
5. When large bubbles form on the surface, flip over and cook until lightly golden on the other side.

3

4

Serve hot..if wanted could use toppings like Honey/maple syrup.....NJOY!!!!

Note- if adding Vanilla ess.,then add it after you mix in milk.

Kottayam style Meen Mappas (Fish Mappas)

A yummy Kerala Fish Curry prepared in Coconut Milk...this recipe comes from a  place called Kottayam(my hubby's native place)-famous for its beauty,houseboats n backwater.

Found this recipe on Niya's World - Do visit for wonderful,simple recipes..esp. for SEAFOOD...i found her site very helpful..

Fish pieces - 500gm(cubed) (you can use Kingfish,Tilapia,Tuna...etc)
Haldi - 1/2tsp
Rcp - 1/2tsp
Salt - 1tsp

Wash ,clean and dry fish pieces .Marinate with haldi,rcp n salt.Keep aside for half an hour.

For curry
Oil - 2 tbsp
Shallots(sliced) - 1/4cup  ( we don't get shallots here in tanz,so i used half Onion)
Garlic(sliced) - 10 cloves (if using indian garlic) or 5 cloves(if using chinese garlic)
Ginger(sliced) - 1"
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Green Chilles - 3 (sliced lengthwise)
Rcp - 1tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
Haldi - 1/4tsp
Black Pepper powder - 1/4tsp
Water - 1/4cup
Thin Coconut Milk - 225ml
Kokum - 4 (soaked in 3 tbsp  water,add 1/4tsp salt to it)
Thick coconut milk - 100ml
Salt - to taste

Method :-

Dilute rcp,haldi,coriander powder and pepper powder in 1/4cup water.Mix properly and keep it aside.

1. Heat  oil in a meen chatti/pan,fry onions,garlic,ginger,green chillies and curry leaves-till golden in color.
2. Add the diluted spices and cook for 2-3 min on low flame.
3. Add thin coconut milk and soaked kokum(along with the water-Strain Kokum water before adding it to the pan).Put on the lid and let it boil.
4. Once it starts boiling add the marinated fish pieces and salt to taste.
5. Cover and cook again on medium heat for 8-10 min(or until fish is cooked).
6. Once cooked remove the pan from heat and add thick coconut milk.Combine well.

Serve hot with rice,ghee rice,appam or rice noodles....Njoy!!!

Fish Pulav

A simple n yummy pulav prepration for my fish loving hubby,son and frnds...

Adapted from Aayi's Recipes

Fish fillet - 0.22kg ( i used Kingfish )
Rcp - 1 tsp
Cloves - 2 to 3
Cinnamon - 1" pc
Ginger - 1 tsp
Garlic - 1 tsp
Salt

Method : -
Grind ginger,garlic,cloves,cinnamon and apply to the fish pieces.Add about 2 cups water and salt.Cook till fish is done.Take out the fish pieces(preserve the water-to cook the rice). Remove the skin and bones. Using hands break the fish into cubes.Keep aside.

Basamti rice - 1 cup
Ginger - 1tsp
Garlic - 1 tsp
Onion(chopped) -  1/2cup
Black pepper - 1 tsp (not in the original recipe-but i used it for extra spice)
Oil
Salt

Method : -
Prepare paste of ginger and garlic.
Heat oil in a kadai and fry onion,ginger-garlic paste.When they turn  it brownish,add rice and fry it for a few minutes.Now add the water which was used earlier to cook fish.Add salt and more water(if needed).Cook till rice is done.
In a thick bottomed pan,spread little rice then 1/2 of fish pieces.Repeat the layering till the rice and fish finishes.Closed the lid and let it cook for a few minutes on low flame.

Serve Hot...njoy!!

Kheer

How about using leftover rice to prepare ..a yummy kheer for ur hungry kids,when thy arrive from school @ 4pm...

Rice kheer

Rice(leftover) - 1 cup
Milk - 1.5 to 2 cups
Ghee - 2 tbsp
Illachi - 1 tsp(freshly powdered)
Nuts - a few (if ur kids like nuts)
Sugar - 1/2 cup (or according to taste)

Method : -

1. In a mixer blend rice and little milk,just enough to make a  rice paste.
2. Heat a pan and add ghee.Pour rice paste and stir for a few seconds.
3. Add illachi powder and milk.Cook for 2 - 3 min.
4. Now add sugar .let it boil.
5. Remove from flame and pour into serving bowls.
6. Decorate with crushed nuts of your choice.

Serve it chilled or hot...my family prefer Chilled..Njoy !!

Kerala Style - Fish Curry

Chef Noushad's recipe - as seen on TV.

Fish(i used Kingfish) - 1/2kg (thick pieces)
Ginger - 1"pc (curshed)
Garlic cloves - 12 (crushed)
Shallots/Onion - 4 shallots/ 2 onions
Kokum - 10gm (soaked in water for 10 min)
Curry Leaves - 2 sprigs
RCP - 2 tsp
Fish Masala - 3 tbsp
Oil
Salt

Method :-

• Heat oil,saute onions-garlic-ginger.
• In a small bowl mix rcp and fish masala and pour little water to combine them properly.
• When onion turns slightly brown ,pour the masala mix in it.Cook for 5- 10 min.
• Put fish pcs and cook for 2-3 min.
• Now add kokum and  water(as required for curry,just enough to cover the fish).
• Add salt and curry leaves.
• Cook till fish is done.

Njoy with rice....

Note- Kokum could be replaced with 2 tomatoes.

Strawberry/Raspberry Upside-Down Cake with Cardamom

The other day my hubby brought home 2 packets full of Raspberries..one packet i finished making raspberry shake..then i was wondering wat to do with the rest ..??? While watching  a cookery show on TV,saw the chef making two cakes-Pineapple Upside-Down and Apple upside -down cake...so i wondered-"Whether Strawberry/Raspberry Upside-Down Cake"is possible or nt..??I started browsing and landed on this site..aah !!For those who luv "Baking"...its a "must visit"page.

Raspberry Cake

Adapted from - Joy The Baker

For Topping:

2 tbsp unsalted butter(i used melted ghee)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup sliced Strawberries/Raspberries

For Cake:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened( i used melted ghee)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract(i ran out of stock so i repalced it with Rose ess.)
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cardamom(could be replaced with Cinnamon too)
2/3 cup sour cream(i replaced it with plain yogurt)

Method:-

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180-190 degree C.
• Place butter in the cake pan and place in the oven.  When butter is melted, remove pan from the oven.  Using two pot holders(gloves), tilt the pan around and around, coating the sides of the pan with butter.  Once sides are coated, set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom.  Set aside.
• In  a bowl using an electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar on medium speed, until slightly pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Stop mixer, scrape down the bowl with a spatula, and add egg and vanilla extract.  Beat for 1 minute.
• Turn the mixer off, add the dry ingredients.  Beat on low speed while adding the sour cream.  Beat until the batter just comes together.  Batter will be pretty thick.  Atlast -finish incorporating ingredients with a spatula.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar into the melted butter in the cake pan.  Sprinkle strawberry/Raspberry slices over the butter and sugar in a single layer.  Spoon batter over the strawberries and spread evenly with a spatula. 
•  Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Let cake rest for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake and inverting the cake onto a cake plate. 

Makes  8 inch thin cake .

   Serve warm with sweetened sour or whipped cream.Njoy!!!

No Bake Cake...

Yes u heard it right No Bake Cake and i would luv to name it The Biscuit Log ..i bet ur kids r gonna tell u mums- to prepare it every week...wen i was in my teens,one of my family frnd(Mathews Aunty) taught this cake to my mom(secretly i too learned it..but never tried)..Now almost 14yrs later..i tried it for the 1st time on dis vacation wen i was @ my home(Pilani,Rajasthan).Am glad my son luved it so much that he told me to prepare it every day..huh! son tht's nt possible but i did promise him that i'l prepare it atleast once every week :D :) ;) 

Biscuit Cake

                                                The Biscuit Log

Marie Biscuits – 1 pkt

Instant Coffee Powder – 2 tsp

Sugar – 1tsp

Water – ¼ cup   to ½ cup

Aluminium Foil – just enough to wrap a full packet of Marie Biscuit

For chocolate frosting   

Butter – 1/4cup

Cocoa Power – 1/3 cup

Milk – 1/6cup

Powdered Sugar -1.5cups

Vanilla ess.- 1/2tsp

Method:-

1  

•    In a pan warm water, add coffee powder and sugar. Remove from flame and pour it in a medium serving bowl. 
•    Spread the aluminum foil on a kitchen platform. 
•     Take biscuit and dip it full in the coffee water and take out immediately. Place it on the foil. 
•      Apply little frosting on this biscuit. Take another biscuit and dip it in coffee water and repeat the whole process till the whole packet of biscuit is finished and arranged into a Log. 
•   Now apply the remaining chocolate frosting over the biscuit log, cover it fully. 
•  Wrap  the prepared biscuit cake with foil tightly – in toffee shape. 
•   Freeze it for 2 – 3 hrs. 
•      Once its set take out from freezer, open it carefully and cut in lengthwise with a sharp kitchen Knife.(as shown in the last image below)

Frosting – Melt butter in a pan on low flame and add cocoa powder, mix well. Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla ess and stir well to get a spreading consistency frosting.

Note:- For this particular cake I didn’t use chocolate frosting.I used 1/2cup fresh cream(malai),2 tbsp-cocoa powder and about 3tbsp-powdered sugar.Mixed it and applied on the Log.  

Its ur wish ,u can use any of the above coating for the cake.

Cut lengthwise

After 2 hrs of freezing

Serve chilled  !!!!

Hey frnds..am back after a 3 month long refreshing and fun-filled vacation with my luvly family..had a GALA time with both my families..plus enjoyed  a unexpected and unplanned trip to Dubai woopie!!! though it was a short visit but really had awesome time thr....So now here i am back to Tanzania and my blog :) with sum new and mouthwatering dishes..NJOY!!!!!!