Sour Cream and walnut pound cake

Ingredients: (Measurements are very important to prepare this yum cake.)

Sour Cream - 1 cup
All purpose flour - 3 cups ( I used unbleached flour)
Eggs - 2 large
Unsalted  butter - 1 stick at room temperature
Sugar - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp
Salt  - 1/2 tsp

Topping:

Walnut - 1/2 cup, chopped
Sugar - 1/2 cup
Vanilla extract - 2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon - 2 tsp

Method :

• Beat together butter, sugar and eggs. Whisk nicely until fluffy.
• In a separate bowl,  mix together flour, baking soda, salt.
• Add this flour mixture to the creamy butter mixture.
• Mix it well.
• Turn on the oven to 350F.
• In a separate small bowl add the topping ingredients and mix it well.
• In a baking cake pan, either Grease or use the foil (I use foil as it will be easy to take the cake from the pan).
• Pour half of the batter to the pan, sprinkle the topping mixture and pour the rest of the batter on top of the topping. Top with rest of the toppings.
• Bake the cake for 30-40 minutes ( depending on the oven) . It took me 40 minutes to bake.
• From 30 minutes, check every 5 minutes. You know it is done when the knife inserted at the center comes out clean.
• Let it cool before serving.
• This will stay good for couple of days, if covered and refrigerated.
• This will be great addition to breakfast as it is not that sweet.
• Enjoy.

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Sour Cream and walnut pound cake

Banana Cinnamon and oats muffins

This is a very easy to make and super healthy and tasty to eat. I followed the recipe fromVeggieplatter. It turned out so delicious.  Thanks veggieplatter !.
Since we  eat eggs, I added egg to get extra protein. Eggs are totally optional.

Ingredients:

Ground oats - 1 cup (Just grind the oats, or use the store brought oat flour)
All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
Baking Soda - 3/4 tsp
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
Egg - 1 (optional)
Milk - 1/4 cup
Chopped walnut - 1 cup
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
Sugar - 1 cup
Unsalted Butter - 1/2 stick
Mashed Banana - 1 big , use 2 if you not using egg as it keeps the muffins moist.

Method:

• Beat the egg nicely, Whisk together sugar and butter in a big bowl.
• In a separate bowl, add oats flour, all purpose flour, salt, Cinnamon powder baking powder and soda ; mix them.
• Add this dry ingredients to the egg mixture.
• Add the walnuts, milk and mashed banana. ( keep some walnuts to top the muffins)
• Stir all together until just combined.
• Sprinkle the rest of the walnuts on each muffin cups.
• Preheat the oven to 375F
• Grease or line up the muffins pan with the paper cups,  spoon the batter to fill 3/4 the of the cups.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and a knife inserted comes out clean.
• Enjoy.

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Banana Cinnamon and oats muffins

Mac & Cheese , Seasoned Green beans and Fresh Salad with fresh Guacamole dip

The above title was today's lunch!. It is very healthy and delicious meal. I wanted to make Vighnesh and Arushi eat avocado somehow so I tried this guacamole and finally I am successful!.

Below are the recipes of the complete lunch plate. Enjoy and stay healthy.

1) Guacamole Dip :

Ingredients: Serving size 2 adults

Avocado - 1

Tomato - 1/2 finely chopped

Onion - 1 Tbs, finely chopped

Lime Juice of 1/2 lime

Tabasco sauce - 1/4 tbs or less ( optional)

Method:

•  Cut the avocado in to half; lengthwise.
•  Run the spoon close to the skin of avocado to remove the flesh of avocado.
• Remove the pit.
• Mash the avocado until your desired smoothness. Add the tomato and onion.
• Add the lime juice, salt and pepper and stir well.
•  Keep it aside.

Fresh Salad :

Chop all your favorite veggies to get your daily serving of vegetables.
I used : Thinly sliced carrots, couple of lettuce leaves, Thinly sliced red radishes, tomato and zucchini and some sprouted mung beans.

 

Seasoned Green Beans:

Recipe is here

And Finally Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
Macaroni elbows pasta - 1 cup
Butter - 2 Tbs
Flour - 2 Tbs
Milk - 1 cup
Sharp cheddar cheese; shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Yellow Mustard  - 1 tbs
Grated Zucchini - 1/2 cup
Breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup
Method :
• Cook pasta according to the package instruction.
• Meantime, heat butter in a pan, add the flour whisking continuously.
• Add milk and keep stirring to avoid lumps.
• Add the mustard, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of cheese, Mix it properly.
• Add the cooked pasta, zucchini.
• Pour this mixture into baking pan.
• Heat the oven to 350F
• Melt 1 tbs of butter and add the crumbs. mix it well until all get wet.
• Spread this over the pasta in the baking pan.
• Keep it in the lower rack and bake it for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let it cook for 5 minutes before serving.
• You can serve this pasta with pasta sauce.

All put it together :

Our  healthy lunch plate Looked like this 

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Mac & Cheese , Seasoned Green beans and Fresh Salad with fresh Guacamole dip

Delicious Fruit cake

It was my husband's birthday and I wanted to make some delicious cake for him. I searched web for fruit cake; found some very good recipes. I followed joyofbaking way. But changed little bit and it turned out very good. My Hubby loved it..
Here is my version of tasty, healthy fruit cake

Ingredients:

First Set :
All purpose flour  - 1 cup
Salt - 1/4 tbs
Baking powder - 1 tbs

Second Set :
Butter melted - 1 cup
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Egg - 1 large

Third Set :
Dry apricot  - 1/4 cup
Dry fig - 1/4 cup chopped
Chopped dates - 1/4 cup
Chopped cashews - 1/4 cup
raisins
Cardamom powder , Cinnamon powder  - 1/4 tbs
Cloves - 2
chopped walnuts, pecans
Fresh apple  - 1/2 chopped
Orange Juice - 1/2 cup
Orange Zest of 1 orange
Safron - few strands : infused in 1 Tbs of milk

Fourth Set : Simple and easy icing

Granulated sugar - 1 cup
Butter melted -1/2 cup
Vanilla essence - few drops
Water - 2 Tbs


Easy Steps :

•  Sift together the first set of all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• Turn on the oven to 350f
• Add sugar to the melted butter and whisk together until nice and fluffy.
• Slowly add the egg and beat nicely for 2-3 minutes.
• Add all the third set of ingredients to the butter and egg mixture while mixing nicely.
• Now add this mixture to the flour and mix them until all the dry ingredients and wet.
• Pour the mixture to cake baking tray only until 3/4 filled.
• Place it in the lower rack and bake it for 1 hour.
• Turn down the heat to 300f and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the toothpick inserted comes out nicely.
• Cool to room temperature.
• If you keep it in the cake box, nicely covered. it stays for many days.
• I couldn't do that because the cake was so good and we finished it in 1 day.

For Icing :

• Add all fourth set together in a bowl.
• You can use the hand mixer if you have.
• Start wisking slowly.
• Increase the speed and wisk for 5 minutes.
• Air will be incorporated nicely and forms a stiff icing.
• Stop wisking once it becomes very stiff.
• You can use this to write names or your wish on the cake.

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Delicious Fruit cake

Self rising white cornmeal blueberry muffins

Hello friends,

I am back to blogging after a long vacation in India..We had such a wonderful time with family and friends.. We miss them here. Especially Arushi is missing grand parents so much.: (
Anyways,  this is the first recipe I am writing after long time and here you go!

Ingredients you need for Cornmeal muffins.

Self rising white corn meal - 2 cups
Egg - 2
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Butter melted- 1/2 cup
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Blueberry - fresh or frozen - 1/2-1 cup
Raisins - 1/4 cup

Easy steps :

1. Preheat the oven to 400F
2. Combine sugar and corn meal in a large bowl
3. Whisk eggs, yogurt and butter
4. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and Stir just until all the dry ingredients are moist.
5. Spoon the mixture to muffin cups , filling 3/4th fill.
6. Bake at 400F for 13-15 minutes.
7. Enjoy!

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Self rising white cornmeal blueberry muffins

Easy and healthy Corn bread

Ingredients:

Corn meal - 2 cups (I used self rising white corn meal, salt  and Baking powder is added already)
Milk - 1-1/2 cups
Egg - 1 or You can use Apple sauce to substitute that.
Butter - 3 Tbs, at room temperature.
Sugar - 2 Tbs

If you are not using Self rising flour then,
Baking powder - 1 tbs
Salt - 1/2 tbs

Method:

• Turn on the oven to 420F.
• Beat the egg, add butter and milk.
• Add the flour, baking powder and salt if using.
• Mix it with milk.
• Mix well to make a batter.
• Lightly brush the baking dish with butter.
• Pour the batter to the baking dish and bake it for 20-25 minutes or 
• Until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• You can use this bread for morning breakfast or for dinner with soup.
• Enjoy the homemade healthy bread.

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Easy and healthy Corn bread

Eggless Applesauce, Chocolate cake

Yesterday we had a blast at roopa's house, played cards, Carrom. Even Arushi also had a wonderful time with Vidhu and Murari. It was Chats and Dinner party. Thank guys for organizing. This chocolate cake was one my entry for desert along with DahiVada. Everyone had prepared unique and delicious foods,  we ate so much!. Must do some workouts today without fail!.

Recipe:
Here is what you need:

All purpose flour - 2-1/2 cups
Applesauce  otherwise pureed apple - 2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 tbst
Baking powder - 1 tbs
Baking soda - 1/2 tbs
Ground cinnamon and cloves - 1 tbs
Ground flaxseed - 2Tbs
Raisins - 1 cup

Milk - 3/4 cup
Vanilla extract - 1 tbs ( You can prepare vanilla extract at home like this )
Apple cidar vinegar - 1tbs
Chocolate syrup - 1 cup
Chocolate chip - 3/4 cup
Water - 4Tbs
Butter or shortening - 1 stick melted or 1 cup at room temperature

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 400F .
• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and sift gently.
• Mix all wet ingredients together and add this to dry ingredients. 
• Add the butter and mix well with spatula, until mixed well.
• Lightly brush or spray the baking dish with oil or butter.
• Pour the mixture into baking dish.
• Bake it for 30-35 minutes depending on the oven type.
• Check for doneness; toothpick or knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Serve cold.
• Enjoy

Linking this to Ramya's ABC Series

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Eggless Applesauce, Chocolate cake

Apple pie

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 cup of melted butter

5 tbs of cold water

1 tbs of salt

For the Filling:

Apples - 3 big apples: thinly sliced

Sugar - 11/2 cups
Lemon juice - 1 tbs

Salt - 1/4 tbs

Cinnamon powder - 1 tbs
all purpose flour - 2Tbs

Butter stick - 1 tbs

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 420F.
• Knead all the crust ingredients together in hand or food processor for few seconds. Do not knead the dough for long time.
• Divide the dough in to two balls.
• On the floured flat surface, roll the ball in to a circle shape slightly larger than the pie pan or dish.
• Slowly transfer the flattened dough into pie dish, fit into a pan, pressing against all the sides.
• Cut off the overhanging edges.
• Prepare the fillings.
• Mix all the filling ingredients in  a large bowl and mix it once.
• Roll out the other ball just like the first one.
• Place the fillings in to pie shell, spreading evenly with the back of the spatula.
• Cut the butter stick into small pieces and spread on top of the fillings.
• Carefully place the other rolled ball over the fillings.
• Press the edges down into the base pie shell. Covering the entire fillings.
• Brush the outer layer with the butter.
• Make couple of ventilation holes.
• Transfer the pie pan to preheated oven; to lower rack.
• Bake it for around 45-50 minutes. Depending on the oven type and condition. It took me 50 minutes.
• Enjoy the delicious pie.

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Apple pie

Blueberry Muffin

I am so obsessed with berries these days,everyday I will be thinking what I can make today using berry!. And yesterday I made Blueberry muffin. I actually do not make muffins so often; it is not because I do not like it, it is because I can't stop eating muffins: breakfast, lunch and whenever I enter kitchen. :)

Ingredients:

3 cups of all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon of Baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of Baking soda

2 Eggs

1 cup of Sugar

1/2 teaspoon of Salt

1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla extract

lemon zest

1/2 cup of Milk

1 stick of unsalted butter (melted- room temperature)

11/2 cup of Blueberry (fresh or frozen)

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Blueberry Muffin