Nenthrapazham Pulissery / Ripe Banana in Buttermilk Gravy

This is one of easiest recipe which i used to make it in a jiff whenever i feel bored with the regular sambar etc.,. This recipe has been passed to me from my mom. She used to make varieties of buttermilk gravies with different veggies,especially during the summer season. I like the nentharapazham pulissery which she makes .

This gravy should be a bit thick and tastes great the next day . The sweetness of banana and the sour curd blends well and makes the gravy simply delight. It's mild and serves a great accompaniment with rice along with some spicy veggies.

Nentrapazham Pulissery / Ripe banana in Buttermilk gravy - Ingredients:

Cooking Time : 10 mins / Recipe Cuisine: South Indian 

Nentrapazham (Ripe banana) - 1 medium

Slit green chillies   -    2-3 

Turmeric      -  a generous pinch

Red chilly powder    -  1/2 tsp

Thick Curd    - 1 1/2 cups

Water      - 1 1/2 cups

Salt to taste

To Grind:

Coconut     -   1 cup

Jeera / Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

To Temper:

Oil -   2 Tblsp

Mustard seeds  - 1 tsp

Red chilly  - 2

Urud dal  - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - a sprig

Fenugreek seeds or Powder - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Grind the Coconut and Cumin seeds and keep it ready

 

Cook covered the ripe banana in the water along with green chillies,turmeric and red chilly powder until it is 

fully done.

Add the coconut paste and cook for another 5 mints until the raw smell of coconut leaves completely.

 

Add the beaten yogurt and salt and cook for 3 mints by continuously stirring and then switch off.

Temper the ingredients given under "to temper" and season it. Keep covered for 5 mints and give a stirr.

Serve hot with any spicy dry veggies and rice.

Notes:

• Select Ripe banana for the gravy.
• Don't make it too watery.
• Adjust the spice level accordingly by increasing the number of chilly.

Nan Khatai / Butter Cookies / Ghee Cookies

Happy and Prosperous New Year 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nan Khatai 's are traditional Indian cookies made with butter or ghee and have a melt in mouth texture. It is also called as butter or ghee cookies. The flavor of cardamon makes these goodies smell heavenly. It's quick and easy to make and as a beginner if  i can do, anyone can make it.  They were popular in Gujarat which was it's origin.  I have bookmarked this recipe long back even before i started baking. For me cookies were always butter cookies and has never missed it whenever we visit a bakery.

Nan Khatai Recipe : Ingredients:

Cooking  Time: 10-12 mins / Recipe cuisine: Indian / Recipe Reference : Divya's Cookbook

Yields: 17 Cookies.

All purpose flour   -   1 cup

Sugar     -    1/2 cup

Ghee      -    1/2 cup

Baking soda - 1/4 tsp

Cardamon   -  1/4 tsp

Broken Badam / Pista   - optional

Method:

1. Melt the ghee and beat in the powdered sugar and cardamon until smooth and creamy.

 

2. Add the flour and baking soda and mix together and knead to a smooth dough. It will be bit sticky but that's alright.

 

3. Keep covered the dough for 1 hour. This will improve the texture of the cookies.

4. Then roll into small cookies and press gently with badam or any nuts of your choice. Arrange them in baking tray lined with foil or butter paper.

 

5. Preheat your oven to 180 deg C for 5 mints and then bake for 10 - 12 mins. The top of the cookies will not brown and that's the perfect stage. 

6. Remove and cool them them on a wire rack. 

Enjoy these melt in mouth cookies. My hubby was not able to resist the smell and poped one to his mouth even when it was hot. We all enjoyed it to the core.

Notes:

• Don't tempt to over bake it, then it will become hard. 
• Baking time varies in each oven, so bake according to your oven. 
• Resting time is important to give a smooth and soft cookies.

Eggless Custard Cookies/ Whole Wheat Custard Cookies

Hi every body! Here's my second recipe for Christmas. I have already posted my Eggless Microwave chocolate cake with Ganache frosting.This is my first baking attempt in my electric oven and I don't want it to end in a disaster. So I selected this simple cookie recipe. It's Whole wheat cookie with no egg, no butter and what's more to be it a guilt free cookie. I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw my cookies came out perfect. Mithu too was excited seeing the homemade cookies. The entire house was filled with the aroma of the custard and vanilla flavor when baking. My first baking recipe was a hit in my family and I was happy it got finished in one day.

Eggless Whole Wheat Custard Powder Cookie Recipe : Ingredient

Preparation time : 10 mins /Baking time: 15-17 mins  /Recipe Category: Cookies /Recipe Reference :Yummytummy

Wheat flour/Atta  -   1  cup
Custard Powder    -  1/4 cup (any flavor)
Sugar   -  1/2 cup
Baking Soda   -   1/4 tsp
Baking powder    -  1/2 tsp
Vegetable oil    -  1/4 cup
Milk   -    3 tablespoon or as needed.
Vanilla essence  -     1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degree C. Line the baking tray with a foil or Wax paper and grease it. Set this aside.

 2. Start making the dough. Mix all the dry ingredients( atta, custard powder, sugar, baking soda,baking
powder.)

 

3. Add in the wet ingredients (vegetable oil, and vanilla essence) and mix it together.

4. It will be in a crumbly like texture. Add the milk and knead to form a dough

 
.

5. Pinch a little from the dough and start shaping into balls and arrange it in a tray.

 


6. Now press it slightly and using a fork mark intentions .

 


7. It's ready to go into the oven and bake for 15 to 17 mints. Remove and allow it to cool completely.Store in a air tight container.

 Enjoy guilt free cookies........

Notes:
1. When the cookies are hot it will be bit chewy. Once it cools down it becomes crisp.
2. Use any flavor of custard powder and try it.
3.Vegetable oil can be substituted with olive oil for more a guilt-free version.

Eggless 5 minutes Microwave Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting

Happy and Merry Christmas for all my viewers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's busy time packing gifts and baking cakes for your beloved ones. Here's my simple and quick recipe for this Christmas especially for the busy mom's in the kitchen.

As a beginner in baking I just selected this simple microwave recipe which I have tried  a couple of times. Cakes done in microwave though may not be as softer like the one baked in an oven ,still it will be soft. So if you are carving for something chocolaty and can't go for all those baking process, then this will be a right choice. Frosting adds additional beauty to it. What's more to delay?try it!!

Eggless 5 minutes Microwave Chocolate Cake - Ingredients:
Cooking Time : 5 mins  Recipe Cuisine:  International.

All purpose flour  -  1/2 cup
Sugar    -  1/4 cup
Coco powder    -    3 tablespoon\
Curd  -   2 tablespoon
Baking soda   -  1/4 tsp
Water  -   1/3 cup
Oil    -  1/4 cup
Vanilla essence  -   1/2 tsp (optional)

For Frosting:
Chocolate chips -     1/4 cup
Heavy cream     -     2 tablespoon.

Method:
1. Mix curd and baking soda together and keep it aside till use.

 

2. In another bowl mix flour and coco and keep it ready.
3. Heat water in a microwave safe bowl for one minute. Add oil and sugar to the hot water stirr until sugar dissolves completely.

 

4. Add the curd mixture and vanilla and give a quick stirr.

 

5. Add the flour mixture to it and fold it  until everything comes together.

 

6. Grease another microwave safe bowl and pour the mixture into it and microwave on high for 5 minutes.

     

 

7. Allow it to cool and demould it.

For the Frosting.:
1. Heat the heavy cream in microwave on med for 1 minute.(since the quantity is less i microwaved it. You can also heat on stove top. Just bring it to boil and switch off.)

 

2. Add the Chocolate chips and allow it to stand for 2 mins and then whisk it together.

 

3. Scoop it on the cake and spread evenly. Refrigerate for 30 mints and serve.
I sprinkled some sugar strands to decorate it.

Notes:
1. Just check the cake after 4 mints as it may vary with oven. Mine took completely 5 mins .
2. If you are decorating do it before you refrigerate it. So that it sticks well.
3. You can also try  butter cream frosting or just dust with some icing sugar.

Oreo Truffles

Hi everybody.! This is my first post on cooking. Something simple yet chocolaty! that's what  in my mind. Truffles were my favorite and this one is so simple . As Christmas and winter vacation is all around and  time for me to try something variety for my little daughter and I made these just  for her.

These delicious no bake treat is just made with 3 ingredients. Don't delay to make these treats. Anybody chocoholic could not go with just one. I could see the smile on mithu's face when she just pop one into her mouth. I used the plain Oreo in this recipe. You can use any flavor of your choice.


Oreo Truffles Recipe - Ingredients:
Yields : 15 truffles  Recipe Category: Dessert  Recipe Reference:Kraft Recipes

Oreo Biscuits       -      15
Cream cheese       -      2 tablespoon.
Baking or Milk chocolate      -  1 cup
White chocolate                     - 1/4 cup (optional)

Method:
1. Crush the Oreo biscuits using a zip lock bag with a rolling pin.

2. Add cream cheese to the crushed Oreo and blitz again until everything comes together.

3. Place the mixture in a bowl and knead it  lightly to a soft dough. If you find it sticky you can place the mixture in fridge for 15 minutes.

 

4. Now start making 1 inch balls from the dough and place them on a parchment /wax paper.
5. Place them in the fridge for 30 minutes to get it set.

 

6. After  30 minutes melt the chocolate and keep aside. Using a barbecue stick or fork dip the balls in the chocolate and just tap to drain the excess.
7. Place them back in the parchment paper and decorate as per your preference. I used melted white chocolate to draw stripes.
Serve chilled.

Notes:
1. Instead of cream cheese you can also use condensed milk of the same measurement.
2. If the mixture is too tight to roll add more cream cheese or if it is loose add little more crushed Oreo's.