Happy New Year

Butterless Dates Cookies

Whole wheat flour-1cup
Baking powder-1/4tsp
Refined oil-1/3cup
Sugar-1/2cup
Egg-1
Vanilla essence-1/2tsp
Dates (chopped)-15

• Preheat oven to 150 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine whole wheat flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl beat butter,vanilla extract,egg and sugar until light and fluffy.Add flour and mix well.
• Shape into small balls and flatten.

• Bake at 150 degrees for 14-15 minutes or until set.

Reposting for the event "Bake Fest # 2"
I am sending the following entries to the Event: "Bake Fest" hosted by Sangee Vijay at Spicy Treats, initiated by Vardhini.(Tasty palette)

Butter Cookies

Oatmeal &Nutella Cookies

Colored almond Cookies


Mini Pavlova

Plum Cake

Butterless Dates Cookies

Butter Cookies

1.All purpose flour-1cup
   Cornflour-1/3cup
   Baking Powder-1/2tsp
2.Butter-125gms
   Vanilla essence-1tsp
   Powdered sugar-3/4cup
3.Egg-1

• Combine all-purpose flour,corn flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl beat butter,vanilla extract and sugar until light and fluffy.Add in egg and mix well.Add dry ingredients and mix well.Freeze for about 30 minutes or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 180 degrees..
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place star nozzle in piping bag.Fill with cookie dough.Pipe the dough onto the baking tray (sheet).

• Bake at 180 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until set.

Oatmeal and Nutella Cookies

Oatmeal-1cup+1/2cup
Egg-1
Sugar-3tbsp
Nutella-3tbsp

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Grind 1cup oats into a fine powder.Mix with 1/2cup oats and keep aside.
• Beat egg and sugar until light and fluffy. Add nutella and beat until smooth.Add oats and mix completely.
• Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
• Shape into small balls and flatten.

• Bake at 180° for 8-10 minutes or until set.

Reposting for the event "Royal Feast-Biriyani"

I am sending the following entries to the Event: Reva's (kaarasaaram)  "Royal Feast - Biriyani"

 

Chicken Biryani

Mutton Biryani 

Arabic Chicken Biryani/ Chicken Majboos

Prawns Biryani                                             

Nadan Chicken Biryani

For Masala
1.Chicken -600gms
   Lemon juice-1tsp
   Turmeric powder-1/2tsp
   Chilly powder-1tsp
   Garam masala-1/2tsp
   Ginger garlic paste-1tbsp
   Yoghurt-2tbsp
   Salt.
Mix together all the ingredients and marinate for an hour.
2.Ghee-1tbsp
3.Cardamom-3
   Cloves-2
   Cinnamon-1
   Bay leaf-1
   Fennel seeds-1/2ts
4.Pearl onion(crushed) -1cup
   Ginger(crushed)-1tsp
   Garlic(crushed)-3
   Green Chilly(sliced)-4
   Mint leaves(crushed)-1tsp
   Tomato(sliced)-1
5.Turmeric Powder-1/2tsp
   Yoghurt-2tbsp
   Coriander leaves(chopped)-a handful
   Salt
6. Cashew nuts-15
For Rice
1.Basmati rice -2cups soak the rice in water at least 30minutes
2.Cinnamon -2sticks
   Cardamom -1
   Cloves -4
   Bay leaf -1
3.Water
   Salt
4.Grated Pineaple-1tbsp
   Saffron -a pinch dissolved in 2tsp milk
   Chopped coriander leaves-1tbsp
For garnishing
Finely sliced onions -1
Cashew nuts - a handful
Raisins - a handful
Ghee-1/2cup


Preparation of Masala

• In a nonstick pan heat 1tbsp ghee and shallow fry the chicken pieces.

• In the same pan fry cinnamon ,cardamom,cloves,bay leaf and fennel seeds.Add crushed onions,ginger,garlic and green chilly.It becomes translucent add crushed mint ,turmeric powder and tomato.Cook until tomatoes are tender.Now add fried chicken pieces,2tbsp yoghurt,1/2cup water and coriander leaves.Cook covered on low flame.Adjust salt and add cashew paste.When the gravy become concentrate ,remove from fire.
  

Preparation of Rice
Boil 6 cup water with salt and spices.Add rice and cook untill 70% done.Drain excess water and keep the rice aside.Mix 1tbsp ghee ,grated pineapple and chopped coriander leaves into the rice.


Heat 1/2cup ghee in a heavy bottom pan. fry the garnished portion of onion ,cashew nuts &raisins

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
• In an oven proof dish ,spread half the masala and place half of the rice over it. Spread the remaining masala and top with the rice.
• Pour 2tbs of saffron milk on the top of it and sprinkle fried onions ,cashew nuts & raisins.

• Cover the dish with aluminium foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.

• 
  

Kerala Plum Cake

Stage-1:Soaking the fruits
   Tutti fruty-1cup
   Raisins(black)-1/2cup
   Raisins(golden)-1/2cup
   Dates(chopped)-1/2cup
   Cashew nuts(chopped)-1/2cup
   Badam(chopped)-1/2cup
   Wine-1cup
   Caramel syrup-1cup 

• Soak dry fruits and nuts in wine-caramel cyrup mixture.Keep in an airtight container at least one week.

Stage-2:Preparation of caramel syrup

Sugar-1/3cup
Water-1/3cup

• In a small pan heat 1/3 cup of sugar .Keep stirring until the color changes to dark brown.Turnoff heat and add 1/3cup water.Mix well and keep it aside

Stage-3:Preparation of batter
1.All purpose flour-1&1/4cup
   Baking powder-1tsp
   Cardamom-2
   Cinnamon-1small piece
   Nutmeg-1/4tsp
   Cloves-1
Blend flour with baking powder and spices.Strain through a sieve.
2.Powdered Sugar-3/4cup
   Salt-1/8tsp
   Butter-125gms
3.Egg-2
5.Vanilla essence-1tsp
6.Soaked fruits-1cup

• preheat oven to 150 degree C.
• In a mixing bowl beat butter,vanilla extract and sugar until light and fluffy.Beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Add flour to the mixture alternately with caramel syrup .Stir until just blended.Gently fold in the soaked fruits with a spoon.

• Fill mold 3/4 full.Bake until dark brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50-60 minutes.

Kerala Mixture

1.Gram Flour(kadala mavu)-1&1/2cups

   Chilly Powder-2tsp

   Turmeric Powder-1/2tsp

   Asafoetida Powder-1/4tsp
   Salt
   Water
2.Gram flour-1/2cup
   Turmeric Powder-1/4ts
   Salt
   Water
3.Curry leaves-10 springs
   Garlic(thinly sliced)-3
4.Pea nuts-1/2cup
   Green peas-1/2 cup
   Chana dal(pottu kadala)-1/2cup
   Chilly Powder-1tsp
   Salt-1tsp
5.Refined oil-500ml

• Make a thick dough with 1&1/2cup gram flour,Chilly powder,turmeric powder ,asafoetida powder ,salt and water(approximately 5tbsp.water).Keep it aside.
• Make a smooth batter with 1/2cup gram flour,turmeric powder ,salt and water.(idly batter consistency).
• Heat oil in a pan on medium heat.Take the batter in a steel spatula with round holes.Tiny droplets of batter fall into the hot oil. Fry till golden. Keep aside.

• Fill the dough into an 'idiyapam press' and press out into hot oil.Deep fry on low flame till golden and crisp.Repeat the same process till the rest of the dough is done. 

• In the same oil fry curry leaves and thinly sliced garlic till crispy.Crush it with hands.
• To the hot oil add green peas, peanuts and chana dal.Fry till crispy and drain it.Add red chilly powder and salt.Mix well.
• Mix all together.When it is completely cooled,store it in an airtight container.

Mixed Vegetable Stew

1.Onion(chopped)-2medium
2.Ginger-garlic paste-1tsp
3.Green Chilly-3
4.Potato(cubed)-1/2cup
   Carrot(cubed)1/3cup
   Beans(Cubed)-1/3cup
   Cauliflower-1/3cup
   Green peas-1/3cup
5.Cardamom-2
   Cloves-2
   Cinnamon-1small piece
   Pepper corn-1tsp
   Bay leaf-1
6.Thin coconut milk-1&1/2cup
   Thick coconut milk-1/2cup
7.Ghee-1tbsp
   Cashew nuts-1tbsp
   Raisins-1tbsp
8.Salt
   Curry leaves.

• Heat butter in a pan and fry cashew nuts and raisins.
• In the same ghee fry cardamom,cloves,cinnamon,pepper and bay leaf.
• Add onion ,ginger garlic paste and green chilly.Saute till the onion becomes transparent.
• Add mixed vegetables,curry leaves salt and thin coconut milk.Cover and cook on low flame till the vegetables are cooked.Add thick coconut milk and simmer for 2 minutes.Remove from flame.
• Garnish with fried cashew nuts and raisins.

Cornmeal Puttu (Steam Cake)

Dried Corn-2cups
Shredded Coconut-1/2cup
Water
Salt

• Grind dried corn into a fine powder.
• Dry roast cornflour, till it's colour is slightly changes.Allow it to cool.
• Add some salt to a cup of  water and sprinkle it evenly over the flour and mix it like the rice puttu.
• Place a handful of shredded coconut in the “puttukutti” and then add the corn flour till half followed by another handful of coconut. This is done till the top.
• Close the lid and steam it until steam comes out through the holes of the lid.`