Friday, October 21, 2005

Sugar Free chocolate cake

This was made for Suresh, my B-I-L. Oh such a foodie!

We Need:
1 Cup All purpose flour
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1/8 Teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk
3 Tablespoon veg oil
3 large eggs(room temperature)
1 egg yolk(room temperature)
2/3 cup sugar free (Equal or equivalent ! :))
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Good quality cocoa powder
Coffee powder can also be added if you like the plum cake (slightly bitterish)feel
Raisins cooked in sugar syrup till plump
Chocolate chips(optional)

Now comes the easiest part..putting all the things together and popping it in the oven..while u mix the ingredients set the oven to 180 C for atleast 20 minutes to preheat

To make it all the more easy for u to essemble .. let me be more precise !

Just split the ingredients in 3 different categories.
bowl 1- 3eggs+1 egg yolk ,sugar and vanilla extract
bowl 2- flour,baking powder,salt,coco powder,coffee powder(sieve through 3-4 time to mix all ingrediens throughly.this also makes it light)
bowl 3- oil,milk and raisins.

1.Whisk contents of bowl 1 on high speed till it is frothy and creamish color
2.Add contents of bowl 2 part by part gently folding it.Don't whisk it hard,
3.Now pour the contents of bowl 3 on the sides and fold in gently.

Dont grease the baking tray. Just pour the batter and this goes straight into the oven. Keep it in the lower half of the rack. This cake can take 20-35 min in a conventional oven, while in a microwave oven it takes only 10 min. Stop baking when the thin top layer is still slightly sticky. Cooling period will be enough to cook it completely. Let it cool for good 1-2 hours. After that all u need it a knife and some secluded place to relish it. Alone !!

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Mint Pulav



Serves: 2

We need:
Basmati Rice 1 cup
water 2 cups
Onions 1 medium chopped lengthwise.
Salt to taste
Bay leaf 2 Nos
Butter/Ghee/margarine 2 tbsp
Cashew Roasted (optional) 1/4 cup For Garnishing.


For the Paste

Mint 1/2 bunch
Coriander 1/2 bunch
Garlic 1 no
Green Chillies 2 nos (or less for the faint hearted!)
Cinnamon 1 piece
Cloves 3-4 pieces
Cardamom 4-5 pieces
Method:
Wash & drain the Basmati Rice and then soak in water for 30 mins.
Pan fry the onion slices on low heat till they become crispy and brown. Keep aside.
Wash & dry the mint & Coriander.
Use the mortar & pestle (or chopper) to coarsely grind all the paste ingredients.
 
 

In a rice cooker or a pan take some butter/ghee.
As it starts melting add bay leaf.
Fry for a minute add the paste let it cook for a couple of minutes
Add rice & salt.Fry it till all the rice is quoted with ghee & spices.



Add the water & cover the lid.

Garnish the rice with fried onions & serve with any Yogurt Salads. You can additionally use fried cashews for the garnish if you don't mind the extra fat!

Bon Apetit !