Multi Grain Loaf

Multi Grain Loaf

After all the Diwali sweets and festive tiredness. one just want to relax and do nothing. A cup of coffee , a slice of freshly baked home made Multi Grain Bread and a nice book feels heavenly. So this simple and quick recipe just for you who love baking breads at home........

Ingredients

For the Dough

Flour/ Maida 125 gms/ 1cup

Wheat flour ½ cup

Oat flour ½ cup

Luke warm milk ½ - ¾ cup

Fresh yeast 2 tbsp / dry yeast 1 tbsp

Salt 1 tsp

Honey 1-1/2  1tsp

Oil 1 tsp

Egg 1  (beaten)

Bread Improver 1 tsp

Gluten ½ tsp

Method

1. Mix fresh yeast with 1 tsp of warm milk and 1 tsp of honey. Keep it aside for a few minutes.

2. Sieve maida , mix in  bread improver, gluten, salt, sugar, egg and 1 cup of luke warm milk & yeast mixture & knead to a smooth dough.

3. Apply some oil on the dough ,cling wrap and keep it for proving (fermenting) for about 45 mins to 1 hr. till it doubles in size. (Increase this time to 2-3 hours in winters).

4. Knock down the dough & knead to a smooth ball.

5. Roll the dough into the shape of loaf.

6. Seal by pinching the sides.

8. Place in a greased loaf tin for 20- 30- mins.

9. Apply some egg wash.( use milk to substitute egg).

10. Sprinkle some rolled Oats, flax, poppy &  sesame seeds on top.

11. Bake at 220 o C for 35- 40 mins.or till golden in colour.

Fondant Quilling

Cake decoration is a very beautiful form of expression of one's creativity. I love decorating cakes and everybody likes to see beautiful and decorated cakes. "Quilling" is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs.  Today I have used this technique to make a decorated cake. I always wanted to try this out when I first saw it. It is not very difficult and came out very beautifully.

I used 'Readymade Fondant' for covering my cake. Then I used 'Spectrum Gel Colors' and made small balls of different colors according to the pattern. 

Then I cut 'thin strips' of the fondant to make different shapes.

I made a 'tight coil'.

 Then a 'tear drop'.

                                       

Then I made an 'S'

 

                                                   

Using the cake glaze  I glued the different pieces onto the cake.

The finished cake 

Top View

Zebra Bundt Cake
(recipe followed and adapted from bakersroyale)

Hi! I have not posted anything on my blog for months...Have been really tied up for some very personal reasons...I really appreciate those blogger friends who instead of having a busy schedule, keeps us updated with their new recipes..But i have been baking and trying out new things in the kitchen..
My love for baking cakes took me to try out "Zebra Bundt Cake" . Its an interesting pattern done with chocolate and vanilla batter. Though my bundt did not turned out so beautiful but the zebra lines were evident..For the zebra cake the batter should not be thick and more of alternate lines should be used..will try harder for the perfect look next time..


Ingredients

3 cups  flour/ maida
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup dark cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups unsalted butter at room temperature
6 tablespoons water
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
5 large eggs
½ cup  milk

Method

1. Sieve flour along with baking powder and salt.
2. In a separate bowl mix 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa powder and water till a smooth blend and set aside.
3. Cream butter and rest 2 cups sugar till light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one by one.
5. Add milk and flour alternatively and mix with a hand blender till the mixture is a smooth paste.
6. Dive the batter in two parts and mix the cocoa mixture to one part.
7. Take a 3 cup greased bundt pan and put 3 tbsp of vanilla mixture.

8. Wait for a few seconds and let it settle down completely.
9. Pour 3 tbsp of cocoa mixture in the center of vanilla batter.

10. Repeat till both the batter are finished and a zebra like pattern is formed.

11. Bake in a preheated oven for 50 mins. at 200o C.

Best Banana Bread

Best Banana Bread


Baking Cakes is my passion. I always try to make my recipes simple and quick. Banana bread is a tea cake loved by all. You can use those left over ripe bananas which no body is ready to eat. This recipe is so easy , healthy and loved by all that I keep baking  it again and again. 


Ingredients


3-4 mashed bananas
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup melted butter/ olive oil
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts


Method


1. Sift flour along with baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
2. Whisk egg and sugar together lightly.
3. Add butter/ olive oil and mix properly.
4. Add flour mixture and again mix till everything is mixed properly. U can add 1-2 tsp of    milk if the batter is very thick.
5. Add mashed bananas.
6. Put the batter in a medium size loaf tin. Sprinkle chopped walnuts on top and bake for about 40 minutes at 180 o C or till golden in colour.

Garlic Knots

  

 Garlic Knots


Everybody is loving bread. Not only eating it but making a bread is also fun to make. It's a versatile food which can be enjoyed as a starter, snack or main course. And making a home made bread adds to the zing. Though I have made Garlic bread earlier also , this time I thought of giving it a braided shape and also tried making knots from the same dough ....It all came out so well.....


Ingredients


500 gms flour
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt 
2 tsp fresh yeast (about 25-30 gms)
(If using dry instant yeast use half the quantity of fresh yeast)
25 ml oil
1 1/2 cups water 
3-4 garlic cloves (finely chopped)


Method


1. Soak yeast in 2 tbsp of lukewarm water and 1 tsp sugar. Leave this for about 15 minutes   until the yeast starts bubbling.
2. Make a soft dough with all the above ingredients and cover the bowl with a cling wrap for about an hour or untill the dough is double in size.
3. Now I have used 3/4 dough for the braided bread and made four knots with the left 1/4 dough.
4. Roll the dough and put chopped garlic in the center and then again roll it and then cut it into the required shape.
5. For the rest of the method you can please follow the pics. ( I think it will be easier).
6. Put the bread in tin or on a baking tray. Put some egg wash on the top for that browning effect and bake it a preheated oven at 220 o C for about 35 minutes.




                                                             Braided bread

Garlic Knots 

Cut into thick slices after it is baked and cooled. Apply some butter and then again toast it You can also add some dried herbs in the butter.

Good Luck Fondant Cake

Good Luck Fondant Cake


I always wanted to try and make a cake covered with fondant. I used to browse through the pics of all the beautiful fondant cakes and use to imagine making them. A few days back I did my first attempt. I made a chocolate cake, covered and decorated with fondant. Though I know it lacks the finesse and I'll have to practice a lot but felt so happy when I completed it.. It was a Good Luck Cake made for my elder son appearing for 12th Board Exams. Just hope to lots of work on Cake Decoration....


The picture quality is not so good as I have a small digital Camera and it was taken in the evening time...Everybody was waiting for it to be cut...Shared with some friends it was gone in a few minutes....Everybody thankfully loved it..the taste as well as the looks..!!

Easy Doughnuts

Easy Doughnuts


Doughnuts are usually a round piece of sweet dough which is fried ( can be sometimes baked also) and then can be glazed with sugar or chocolate. I always use to think that making doughnuts was a long and tiring thing but when I came across this recipe and tried them, I found them to be quick, easy and super delicious. This recipe is for all my friends who think that making doughnuts is a tedious job, but these  doughnuts are not only quick and easy to make but at the same time does not require much of physical work. 


In this recipe I am using baking powder for raising the dough as not everybody has got yeast at home, but still I think yeast is a better option if available. Kids love to eat doughnuts and please keep me updated when you try these at your home.




Ingredients


 2  1/2 cups Flour
!/2  cup melted butter 
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
3/4  cup powdered sugar
1 egg beaten
1/4  tsp vanilla essence
1/2  tsp cinnamon powder
oil for frying
Castor sugar, chocolate for decoration




Method


1. Sift Flour, baking powder and sugar.
2. Add beaten egg into the flour and mix in the melted butter, milk and essence to make a soft dough.

3. Cling wrap the dough and keep it at room temperature for about half an hour.
4. Roll the dough to 1/4 " thickness.

5. Cut with a doughnut cutter.

6. Deep fry on a medium flame till golden brown.

7. Mix together cinnamon powder and castor sugar. Roll the doughnuts for sugar coated ones.
8. Melt some chocolate and dip the doughnuts for chocolate doughnuts. Sprinkle some decorations for extra touch.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes


Valentine's week is here ...Love is in the air....Everywhere u r seeing chocolates...cards...flowers....and lots of gift... I also thought this is the best time to make some red velvet cakes for family and friends....




(Recipe adapted from a very popular blog http://purplefoodie.com )

Ingredients
(will make about 8-9 medium cupcakes)


1 1/4 cup All purpose flour
60 gms butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
2 ttsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp red food colour
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda


Method 


1. Sieve flour, baking soda and salt together and keep it aside.
2. In another  bowl beat softened butter and powdered sugar till light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and mix properly.
4.  In a small bowl mix cocoa powder, red color and vanilla essence.
5.  Add to butter  mixture and mix with light hands.
6. Now add flour and buttermilk alternately spoon by spoon till everything is blended thoroughly.
7. Spoon into cupcake moulds.
8. Bake at 180 o C for about 20-25 mins.

9. Top it up with some cream cheese frosting and some sprinklers.
10. Serve them with lots of love.

Figs and Honey Bundt

Figs and Honey Bundt


 Its been long since I used my Bundt pan....was waiting of a nice bundt cake  recipe ..which i have not tried before when i came across this beautiful Bundt cake with figs and honey....But then i didn't have fresh figs ...so what...i thought of trying it out with dried figs.....

Ingredients


120 gms butter
3/4 cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup honey

1/2 cup yogurt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
12 figs approx.
2 tbsp brown sugar


Method


1. Soak figs in 1/4 cups of milk and brown sugar for about 2-3 hrs till they 
    are swelled up and soft.
2. Sieve flour, baking powder, salt together in a bowl and keep aside.
3. Beat butter with sugar till the butter is light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time.
5. Stir in yogurt.
6. Add the dry ingredients spoon by spoon.
7. Mix in honey and in the last add figs mixture.

8. Pour in a bundt pan of 6" and bake for about 50 mins or till golden brown.'

Note: You can dust the cake with some icing sugar before serving.

Saffron Rice

Today is "Basant Panchami "'.  This  is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge, music and art. The day of Basant Panchami is considered as the beginning of life. It is also the beginning of Spring Season.  In this season, fields of yellow mustard, charm everyone’s heart. Colorful flowers start blossoming. The day of Basant Panchami is celebrated as the welcoming of colors and happiness. The yellow color has great significance, People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers in worship. At home, 'Kesar Halwa' or 'Kesar Chawal', which is  also yellow in color, is prepared. 

                                        

      

                         Goddess Saraswati

                        

Saffron Rice

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice

2 cups water 

1 1/2 cup sugar

few threads of saffron soaked in a tsp milk 
a few drops of yellow food color  

5-6 small cardamom

2 star anise

1 javitri (mace)

a few raisins

a few fried cashew nuts

2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)

Method

1. Wash and soak basmati rice for  half an hour.

2. Take a large heavy bottom pan and put it on the flame.

3. Put ghee in the pan.

4. Add cardomom, javitri and star anise in the ghee.

5. After a minute put rice and shallow fry rice for a few minutes.

6. Put water and cover the pan with the lid and let the rice cook till three-fourth done.

7. Add sugar when there is a little water left.

8. Also add saffron and a few drops of yellow color.

9. Cook the rice till all the water is soaked and the grain of rice is seperate.

10. Garnish it with fried cashews and raisins.