Kodubale is a delicacy from Karnataka. It’s one of the deep-fried snacks from this cuisine.  “Kodu” means Horn like shape (after a lot of debating with my friends I got stuck to this now!) and “Bale” means Bangle! So, a dish made in the shape of Horn but turned it into a bangle to keep them intact! Whatever, this tasty snack is simply delicious you can’t just stop at one it's so very addictive!
This is my Amma’s (Mother) favourite snack. She loves making these often, my mom learned a lot from my periamma (Maternal aunt) and I too learnt a lot from her, she was a real foodie! She used to try new recipes and keep the authentic recipes alive as well.  I have never seen anybody like her in, my whole family.  She is no more and I miss her a lot.  Most of my recipes are what I have learned from these two women in my life.  This post is dedicated to my Mum and her late sister.

I remember very well my childhood days in our rented house it was a tiny kitchen she used to put the oil and little dough to each of us make us sit in front of her and ask us to make them, it was like a thumb rule, they should be perfectly in a bangle shape.
I remember my childhood days very well, it was a tiny kitchen in our rented house.  When she put the oil on heat Mom used to give us all a steel plate and little dough to each of us in a bowl, make us sit right in front of her and ask us to roll them into little bangle shaped rings, it was like a thumb rule, they should be perfectly in a bangle shape. She is still a perfectionist.
After she fried she used put them in little plates next to us and to munch on so we enjoyed our given task!! Sometimes we used to go crazy and we used to make the first alphabet of our name or any other shape we fancied, she wouldn’t mind as long as the job was done.  As she always made in large quantities. (I am sharing the same quantity here as given by her, and even today I make the same quantity).  But, after some time my sisters used to get bored and run away but, I always stuck with mom and completed the task!  Probably, that is one of the reasons I started learning and loving to cook from a very young age.  I was a sous chef to them!

I still remember the only time she would never allow us to make kodubale was during Gokulashtami festival, every item on the list had to made with Madi (Madi is a term used in Brahmin communities wherein men and women in the family after bath wears dried clothes untouched by other persons and cook food without eating anything as they make it for Puja and God!).  That’s the only one time she wouldn’t allow us to touch and mom, dad, and periamma used to make all the savouries and sweets they used to make around 30 dishes!  Those days were fun, all the three of us use to enjoy!! Gokulashtami is a big festival in Tamil families. The Mango leaves, a lot of flowers, different kind of fruits, Rangolis etc.., It was bliss!!

This recipe I promise you, you will keep it forever. Don't forget to check my notes on my tips and follow it to T for a fool proof and perfect recipe.

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Kodubale/Kodbale (Spicy Bangle rings)! Delicacy from Karnataka

Kodubale is a speciality from Karnataka. Delicious, spicy and crispy perfect Bangle shaped snack which is deep fried, quick to make and tasty.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 minutes minutes

Total Time 17 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 4 cups Rice Flour
• 1 cup Chiroti rava
• 3/4th cup Maida
• 1 tbsp Omam (coarsely powdered)
• 2 to 3 tbsp white Sesame seeds
• 2 tsp salt ( salt as required)
• 1/3 cup oil (Hot Oil)
• 1/4 cup (2 sprigs) chopped curry leaves

Grind to paste

• 1 cup freshly grated coconut ( pressed almost tightly)
• 1 cup Dried copra (precisely 1/2 the dried copra)**
• 20 Byadgi chillies**
• 1/4 tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
• 1/4 cup coriander leaves (loosely packed) (optional)

Instructions

• Heat a pan and dry roast maida and chiroti rava till it is warm to touch. Keep aside to cool.
  
• Take all the Ingredients under Grind put it in a mixie jar and grind to a smooth paste of coconut, dry copra, red chillies, Hing and coriander leaves (optional).
  
• Take a bowl put all the dry ingredients together, Maida, Chiroti Rava, Rice flour, coarsely powdered Omam and salt as required mix well and keep aside.
  
• Heat a ladle full of (1/3 cup) of hot oil and pour it on the dry ingredients, mix well and keep aside. Heat oil in a wok keep it on the stove to a medium flame.
  
• Next add the ground smooth paste into the dry ingredient mixture mix well cover and keep aside.
  
• Heat oil in a wok keep it on the stove to a medium flame. Take a little portion of the mixture in a separate bowl sprinkle water and start kneading it to make a dough! Do not add more water, sprinkle or use little water ( 1 to 2 tbsp of water) every time and start bringing it into a dough consistency. (check notes)
  
• Once the dough has come together, knead it once and start making Kodubales! The dough should be rolled like a rope with the thickness of our little finger (about 3/4th of an inch) it should be perfectly in a round shape like a bangle with the end pinched and pressed to seal the edge on to the overlapping dough on which it is turned around so that they don’t get opened when they are fried in oil
  
• once the oil is hot drop around 8 to 10 in one batch, depending upon how much oil and kadai you have used to fry! Keep frying them turning around now and then so they cooked well on both sides and turn crispy, on a medium low flame. They turn golden brown once they are done. Take them on to a kitchen towel so it absorbs oil.
  
• Follow the same procedure with the rest of the dough ingredients deep fry all the them. Once done, store them in a air tight container it will stay up to 20-25 days! (unless you don't finish them before that)
  
• Hope you try it out make and enjoy!!

Notes

 

 

Notes and Tips:

1. I have given quite a large quantity so, please do remember do not add water completely to the mix. Divide the mix in parts, take one portion at a time and mix water little by little knead well and make the dough.  According to my mom If you make dough out of the whole mix and then use it, when you fry the rings they will absorb more oil, also they change the colour of the end product and they won’t have a long shelf life.
2. Don't forget to add hot oil to the mixture and mix well, this is the trick for the crispiest kodbales!
3. Keep the temperature of the oil constant for perfectly made crispy kodbales. Once when done and after you remove the kodbales bring the flame to low when you drop the rings then go back to the medium flame and fry them until done.
4. When you roll out them into ropes sometimes you might find that they break or become hollow don’t worry it is natural. Again, knead them into the dough, and roll them they will be fine.  Do not extra Maida or anything else to make it stiffer.  Just knead well and use it.
5. Seal the edge after you overlap it onto the main ring, so it won’t open up.
6. Before frying check, the oil is sizzling hot! To find out hold your hand 3 to 4 inches above the oil you can feel the heat! Otherwise, check by adding a pinch of the dough into the oil, it should come up within seconds and float to the top that means your oil is at the right temperature. Now you can slide the kodbales carefully from the side of the wok don’t drop it from a height, this will splash the oil everywhere, so just slide them into the oil.
7. Don’t leave the rings to dry out cover them with a cloth and the dough mixture too!
8. I have mentioned you can make around 60, it depends on the size you make. It also depends the thickness of the dough rolled don’t make them too thick, it may be not crunchy, don’t make it very thin as well it will be very crunchy but loses its taste.
9. I have used only Byadgi chillies, you can use a combo of Guntur and Byadgi chillies.
10. You can use Roasted Gram (chutney dal) instead of sooji as some kannada people make it.
11. My Mom sometimes uses 1 whole coconut it gives real taste.

The post Kodubale/Kodbale - A Delicacy from Karnataka appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Millets or Siri Dhaanya ( Rich Grains) have taken over especially in south India, because of its fiber-rich and diabetic friendly ingredient.

Coming from a cold climate to a nearly warm climate is a drastic change right? can't believe I am back in India for some time,  Have you noticed something? These days everything from aeons ago is back into fashion!! it may be a dress code,   hairstyle or food.

Nowadays people are becoming more and more health-conscious; paying attention to what they eat and how they eat it. One such food item that has had a great comeback is Millets!!

Millets have a high nutritional value, they are recently gaining popularity because they are particularly good for diabetics, as they have high fiber content and they are gluten-free.  They are very rich in proteins, B Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, potassium, etc.

Millet is one of the digestible and non-allergenic grains available, as it is rich in fiber content it is said to be good for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, as it has a low glycemic index. It is said that the Magnesium in millet can help reduce the effects of migraines and heart attacks.  Niacin (vitamin B3) in millets can help lower cholesterol.

Millets consumption decreases triglycerides and C-reactive protein.  The best part of these wholesome grains is they have a very high protein content, making it a substantial addition to a vegan and vegetarian diet.  Millets have become an integral part of the diet in India now!

Millets can be used instead of rice, It's just a small thing which you should know how to cook some of them if you are going to use it instead of rice.  Using them in Idlis or Dosas are very easy.  The most loved millet is Kodo millet, works perfectly instead of rice.

I have used this in Millet in many ways this is one of them, a perfect breakfast dish if you are a south Indian, you wouldn't definitely say no!  These  Idlis are so perfect and pillowy soft-serve it with a side dish of your choice.

Kodo Millet Idli (Kodo Millet steamed dumplings) #Varagarasi, #Kodra, #Arka, #Koovaragu
(A South Indian Breakfast which is almost gluten-free, can be made completely gluten-free, pillowy soft steam-cooked Indian dumplings go very well any spicy side wish)
Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Prep time: 12 hours
Cook time: 13 to 15 minutes
Shelf Life: 1 week
Serves: 5

Ingredients:

2 cups kodo millet(varagu/Arka)
1 Cups Rice
1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds
1 cup urad dal
½ cup Poha / avalakki
1 ½ cup water (approximately)
2 tsp salt

Method:

I use different methods to choose which one you would prefer and use it.  Soak all the above ingredients for 4 to 5 hours.

1. Soak separately Kodo millet and fenugreek seed. Soak Rice separately. Soak Urad dal and poha separately. In your wet grinder add fenugreek seeds and Kodo millet together, fenugreek seeds fluff up nicely grind until smooth to this add poha and urad dal, grind it smoothly. Next, add rice grind it until almost smooth. (Remember to wash poha very well and when I soak poha separately it uses all the water, in which I soak so don’t panic add enough water so it becomes soft)
2. Soak Rice, Fenugreek seeds and Kodo millet together, Urad dal and Poha separately. Grind urad dal and poha together add little water now and then until it fluffs up beautifully smooth and silky it usually doubles in size like a cotton ball, when you pick up the batter it shouldn’t stick to your hands. That’s when you know you have ground it perfectly well.  Remove this from the grinder into a large vessel now to this add rice, Kodo millet and fenugreek seeds and grind it smoothly.  Using water little by little.  Add this to the ground Urad dal batter and mix well.
3. Soak Rice and Kodo millet together. Soak Urad dal separately. Fenugreek and poha together.  Drain rice and millet for some time.   Spread it on a cloth for some time still, then roast in a wok in a for few minutes, in a low flame adding little by little (fistful).  It turns white in colour, once done allow it to cool down.  Meanwhile, grind fenugreek and poha together adding little water at a time then add urad dal and grind it into a smooth batter. Once the rice mixture is cool pound it in a mixie to an almost coarse smooth powder.  Mix this mixture into urad dal batter and allow it to ferment.

Using any one of the above three methods, grind and allow the batter to ferment for at least 8 to 10 hours depending on the place you stay. If you are in warm temperature it usually starts fermenting within 6 to 7 hours, so it totally depends on the place you live.

If it is a very cold climate it takes longer to ferment so It’s better to keep it in a warm place like a boiler room or near the heater or you can use electric oven switching on just the light.

Once it is fermented add salt mix well together, apply oil onto the Idli plates, fill it with the batter 3/4^th of the moulds.  If you are using your pressure cooker allow it to steam for 13 to 15 minutes without the whistle. You can cover the whistle with an inverted steel tumbler for at least 7 to 8 minutes then remove it and allow it to cook for another 7 to 6 minutes.

Some Notes to remember:

If you are using the idli cooker it’s the same method the lid opens on its own once the idli is done.  Press it back again bring the stove to low flame leave it for another 2 minutes it pops up back again then it's done.  Switch off the stove.

A little trick to get proper round moulds of the idlis is.  when you keep the plates on top of the other see to it that the holes come underneath the batter mold and the other thing is, do not put the little screw into the stand use it only when you lift the stand after the idlis are done this way it helps in fluffing of the idlis properly.

Serve the Idlis with sambar, chutney or anything of your choice.

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Kodo Millet Idli (Kodo Millet steamed dumplings) #Varagarasi, #Kodra, #Arka, #Koovaragu

(A South Indian Breakfast which is almost gluten free, can be made completely gluten free, pillowy soft steam cooked Indian dumplings goes very well any spicy side wish)

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Indian / south Indian

Prep Time 12 minutes minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 35

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 2 cups kodo millet varagu/Arka
• 1 Cups Rice
• 1 tbsp Fenugreek seeds
• 1 cup urad dal
• ½ cup Poha / avalakki
• 1 ½ cup water approximately
• 2 tsp salt

Instructions

• I use different methods choose which one you would prefer and use it. Soak all the above ingredients for 4 to 5 hours.
• Soak separately kodo millet and fenugreek seed. Soak Rice separately. Soak Urad dal and poha separately. In your wet grinder add fenugreek seeds and Kodo millet together, fenugreek seeds fluff up nicely grind until smooth to this add poha and urad dal, grind it smoothly. Next add rice grind it until almost smooth. (Remember to wash poha very well and when I soak poha separately it uses all the water, in which I soak so don’t panic add enough water so it becomes soft)
• Soak Rice, Fenugreek seeds and kodo millet together, Urad dal and Poha separately. Grind urad dal and poha together add little water now and then until it fluffs up beautifully smooth and silky it usually doubles in size like a cotton ball, when you pick up the batter it shouldn’t stick to your hands. That’s when you know you have ground it perfectly well. Remove this from the grinder into a large vessel now to this add rice, kodo millet and fenugreek seeds and grind it smoothly. Using water little by little. Add this to the ground Urad dal batter and mix well.
• Soak Rice and kodo millet together. Soak Urad dal separately. Fenugreek and poha together. Drain rice and millet for some time. Spread it on a cloth for some time still, then roast in a wok in a for few minutes, in a low flame adding little by little (fistful). It turns white in colour, once done allow it to cool down. Meanwhile grind fenugreek and poha together adding little water at a time then add urad dal and grind it into a smooth batter. Once the rice mixture is cool pound it in a mixie to almost coarse smooth powder. Mix this mixture into urad dal batter and allow it to ferment.
• Using any one of the above three methods, grind and allow the batter to ferment for at least 8 to 10 hours depending on the place you stay. If you are in warm temperature it usually starts fermenting within 6 to 7 hours, so it totally depends on the place you live.
• If it is a very cold climate it takes longer to ferment so It’s better to keep it in a warm place like boiler room or near the heater or you can use electric oven switching on just the light.
• Once it is fermented add salt mix well together, apply oil on to the Idli plates, fill it with the batter 3/4th of the moulds. If you are using your pressure cooker allow it to steam for 13 to 15 minutes without the whistle. You can cover the whistle with a inverted steel tumbler for at least 7 to 8 minutes then remove it and allow it cook for another 7 to 6 minutes.
• If you are using the idli cooker it’s the same method the lid opens on its own once the idli is done. Press it back again bring the stove to low flame leave it for another 2 minutes it pops up back again then its done. Switch off the stove.

Notes

A little trick to get proper round moulds of the idlies is. when you keep the plates one top of the other see to it that the wholes come underneath the batter mould and the other thing is do not put the little screw into the stand use it only when you lift the stand after the idlis are done this way it helps in fluffing of the idlies properly.
Serve the Idlis with sambar, chutney or anything of your choice

The post Kodo Millet Idli (Kodo Millet steamed dumplings) #Varagarasi, #Kodra, #Arka, #Koovaragu appeared first on My Veg Fare.

– Helen Keller

Sincere Apologies for the long gap between posts.  It was unintentional, the summer months in Britain is our official holiday season! that means going to India.  It’s become a kind of ritual I have to go to India whatsoever! To visit my parents and family.  It’s like Popeye and his spinach.  It’s like the potion of love and I can somehow manage the whole year without seeing them.  It all comes back to heart down the lane, it’s that love which makes you do things and takes you places without which we do not survive.

“Love is not a matter of what happens in life it’s matter of how you are dealing with it” – Ken Keyes

Coming back from India I had to juggle with a lot of things, every year the same story repeats itself predominantly, things to sort out!  Kids going back to University and my lovely garden needed a lot of tending some tear and care as it was kind of abandoned with a ritual of unrealistic seasonal changes with sunny spells, sudden emotional downpours! And off course the ghastly wind how can I forgo it from my thoughts, remember those days one cold night in December the northern lights brought severe winds which would bring Santa down to earth but alas! It blew away my innocent greenhouse to my next door neighbour’s garden, knocking things around.  Poor Lady called me waking me up from my dreams to the reality to a shock of how she was trying to hold down the greenhouse not to fly away to visit another neighbour! who wouldn’t be happy at all!

With all the chaos I baked this cake, this cake brings me back a lot of wonderful memories.  My school days when I would wait for my daddy to bring this cake for us to munch on as after school snack, sometimes we would be treated with puffs, apple cake, Khara bun, palya Bun and Congress Kadalekai beeja (Indian Spiced peanuts) the list can go on and on, But, this cake was always my favourite.  A cake so delicious so moist with the sweetness of honey. A cake you wouldn’t say No!

This would be a perfect cake for any celebration be it a valentine’s Day or Birthday or just a keep it as a centre-piece! when baked it in a tray  it goes to say pick me up.  This cake can also be an inspiration for the Breast Cancer awareness #Pinktober 2016.

Everything to do with your heart, either way , A day to celebrate Love –

“Doubt thou the stars are fire; doubt that the sun doth move; doubt truth to be a liar; but never doubt I love you.  I love thee, I love but thee with a love that shall not die.  Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old”

– William Shakespeare.

Little did I know I would have to travel again which came as a surprise and I had to do this post, my holiday simply extended within a span of weeks now I am in Netherlands!  A country which I love coming back to! A country with Scenic beauty and a land of canals, anywhere and everywhere you turn around you are surrounded by water, you just can’t miss it.  Streaming down with lush greenery, swans, ducks and whatnots swimming and wading and an array of birds - chirping and chattering playfully on the trees, giving us a wake-up call.  The beautiful landscape has never ceased to amaze me.

It’s a love affair, it might be  a fellow human being or  nature it doesn’t matter and it has no criteria.   Love is a universal Language, it doesn’t know caste, creed, colour or religion.  Rich or poor alike, it is  just a given and give policy. So, here is how you make this cake, pouring lots of love to it…..

“Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Honey Cake (Iyengar Bakery style)

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Type : Indian
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time : 45-50minutes
Food type : Dessert
Servings : 6 to 8
Shelf- life: up to 1 week without refrigeration

Ingredients
Ingredients for the cake
185 grams All-Purpose Flour
185 grams Sugar
150 grams Butter
50 grams Coconut Oil(any oil)
5 Eggs
½ tsp Baking Soda
¾ tsp Baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp Agar Agar powder or cream of tartar
2 tsp vanilla essence
Ingredients for the topping
6 tbsp Jam
4 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp water
¼ to ⅓ cup Desiccated Coconut

Method
1. Keep all the Ingredients at room temperature
2. Take a 9’’ by 3’’ heart shaped cake tin or a square tin** prepare the tin by rubbing the butter and then sprinkling All-purpose Flour completely so it is well coated.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degree C/Gas Mark 4
4. In a mixing bowl take all the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Using a sieve sift the dry ingredients at least 3 times so they are well combined. set it aside.
5. In a large mixing bowl take butter and whip it until it is light and fluffy, then add sugar ¼ cup at a time until everything is incorporated.
6. Now to this butter, mix add one egg at a time and beat well, If you find it curdling please do not  panic it’s just normal add 2 tbsp of the flour mix into it. Use all the eggs until well combined, add 2 tsp of vanilla essence when beating the eggs.
7. Now take the dry ingredients and combine carefully little at a time. Fold it in the butter & egg mixture without over mixing it.
8. Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for at least 45 to 50 minutes, mine took around 50-55 minutes. This depends completely on how your oven works.
9. Check the cake with a skewer or any other way by piercing it in the middle of the cake to make completely sure that the skewer comes out clean.
10. When it’s baking make the syrup / topping for the cake. Place a pan on a low flame to this add Honey and mixed fruit jam to loosen it up. Once it starts to combine well and a tbsp of water mix it thoroughly and keep it aside until needed.
11. Remove the cake once done onto a cooling rack. Let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
12. Taking a toothpick, prick holes all around the cake. If your cake tin is springform, it is easy to remove even after pouring the syrup. If not, it is better to remove the cake onto a serving plate, or onto a stand.
13. Place it on a board and pour the warm topping mixture onto to the cake completely spreading it all around. Don’t allow it to drizzle around. once the syrup is poured all over the cake. Leave it for a while 20 to 25 minutes.
14. Then sprinkle the desiccated coconut all over the cake and that’s it your cake is done.
15. Just bake it and enjoy it.
** In India this cake is usually baked in a square tin and cut into small squares and sold individually.

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Honey cake (#Iyengar Bakery style) #pinktober

Most delicious cake, Drizzled with the sweetness of honey and jam. It's definitely a honey cake!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• Ingredients for the cake
• 185 grams All-Purpose Flour
• 185 grams Sugar
• 150 grams Butter
• 50 grams Coconut Oil
• 5 Eggs
• ½ tsp Baking Soda
• ¾ tsp Baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp Agar Agar powder or cream of tartar
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• Ingredients for the topping
• 6 tbsp Jam
• 4 tbsp Honey
• 1 tbsp water
• ¼ to ⅓ cup Desiccated Coconut

Instructions

• Keep all the Ingredients at room temperature
• Take a 9’’ by 3’’ heart shaped cake tin or a square tin** prepare the tin by rubbing the butter and then sprinkling All-purpose Flour completely so it is well coated.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degree C/Gas Mark 4
• In a mixing bowl take all the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Using a sieve sift the dry ingredients at least 3 times so they are well combined. set it aside.
• In a large mixing bowl take butter and whip it until it is light and fluffy, then add sugar ¼ cup at a time until everything is incorporated.
• Now to this butter, mix add one egg at a time and beat well, If you find it curdling please do not panic it’s just normal add 2 tbsp of the flour mix into it. Use all the eggs until well combined, add 2 tsp of <g class="gr_ gr_238 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="238" data-gr-id="238">vanilla</g> essence when beating the eggs.
• Now take the dry ingredients and combine carefully little at a time. Fold it in the butter & egg mixture without over mixing it.
• Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for at least 45 to 50 minutes, mine took around 50-55 minutes. This depends completely on how your oven works.
• Check the cake with a skewer or any other way by piercing it in the middle of the cake to make completely sure that the skewer comes out clean.
• When it’s baking make the syrup / topping for the cake. Place a pan on a low flame to this add Honey and mixed fruit jam to loosen it up. Once it starts to combine well and a tbsp of water mix it thoroughly and keep it aside until needed.
• Remove the cake once done onto a cooling rack. Let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Taking a toothpick, prick holes all around the cake. If your cake tin is springform, it is easy to remove even after pouring the syrup. If not, it is better to remove the cake onto a serving plate, or onto a stand.
• Place it on a board and pour the warm topping mixture onto to the cake completely spreading it all around. Don’t allow it to drizzle around. once the syrup is poured all over the cake. Leave it for a while 20 to 25 minutes.
• Then sprinkle the desiccated coconut all over the cake and that’s it your cake is done.
• Just bake it and enjoy it.
• ** In India this cake is usually baked in a square tin and cut into small squares and sold individually.

Notes

This cake is usually baked in a square tin, I have baked it in a medium sized heart shaped tin. You can bake it in a square tin and cut into a heart shape as I have done as shown.

The post Honey cake (#Iyengar Bakery style) #pinktober appeared first on My Veg Fare.

WHAT IS RAGI?

Ragi or Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana) is an annual plant.  Earliest records of this show it was cultivated in India, particularly in the southern parts of India especially in the regions of Karnataka.  It is a staple diet in Karnataka, It is also called poor man's protein diet.  It was referred to  as 'famine crop' or 'Poor man's crop' as it was always seen as farmers staple food,  making little balls out of the flour which is called as 'Ragi Balls' or  called in Kannada as 'Ragi mudde' (will post the recipe soon) was and still is his diet when he went farming.  This is still used as an important part of our diet in rural parts in Karnataka.  This is very fulfilling and keeps your hunger at bay.

WHY RAGI AS BREAKFAST?

Breakfast is a quintessential part of our daily life, it is the most important meal of the day. You can indulge with tempting, tasty and healthy recipes, and make your breakfast a worthwhile. Ragi is one of the most nutritional and healthy grain.  Breakfast with Ragi is very fulfilling and keeps your hunger at bay.

Even as a kid I used to like it, My children wouldn't eat because of the colour.  Nowadays they have started liking it.  Especially they love it when I make this Semiya (Noodles) dish and it doesn't even taste like Ragi!  that's their verdict.  So, now this is always in my breakfast list.  Children happy so Mummy is happy when they eat healthy food.

RAGI IN VARIOUS DIETS

In my state(Karnataka), we make a special diet for babies using this flour and is called as ' Ragi Siri' (Homemade Baby food)! (will post the recipe).  My children grew up eating Ragi siri!!  These days people have realized the nutritive value of this little grain, even in urban areas, now when I visit India (Karnataka) I have started seeing them in restaurants!!

Benefits of Ragi are said to control Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Cancer, and a lot more. It is said that Ragi is said to be rich in protein which is easily absorbed by the human body.  It is also rich in Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and Iron.  It is said that Ragi reduces cholesterol. It is also gluten-free.

RAGI AS A MILLET

Among the millets, comparable to foxtail millet and Kodo millet, studies have also shown that finger millet controls blood glucose levels, hyperglycemia, and oxidative stress. Finger millet has also shown promise in accelerating wound healing among diabetics. Diabetic patients are advised to eat Finger Millet for this reason.

That's a lot of things we have come to know of this little grain, let's get to the recipe then, on how to make Ragi Semiya (Noodles).

RAGI / FINGER MILLET OTTU SHAVIGE OR SEMIYA (NOODLES / VERMICELLI)
Vegan South Indian Karnataka Style fresh Homemade semiya (Noodles)
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Recipe Author: Jayasri

Ingredients:
1 Cup Ragi / Finger Millet Flour
1 & 1/2 Cup Water
1 tsp Oil
1 tsp salt

Method:
In a heavy-bottomed vessel add water and a tsp of oil and salt allow it to boil. Once it starts boiling bring it to a low flame. In a cup take 1 to 2 tbsp of water and dissolve a tsp of ragi flour dissolve it and add it to the boiling water, after a minute add the flour into the vessel in the middle and immerse a wooden stick or a spatula or label in it.

Close the lid (it won't close completely) not to worry. Leave it for 7 to 8 minutes, water starts rising to cover the flour. Remove the lid and switch off the stove, stir vigorously to bring all the flour together, sprinkle little more water and close the lid.
After 2 minutes, remove it on to a plate. It will be very hot so dip your hand in water every time, start bringing the dough together into a dough ball. Knead the dough into a smooth ball.
Now your base for the Ragi Semiya (Noodles / Ottu shavige) dough is ready.

HOW TO MAKE RAGI SEMIYA  (NOODLES) / OTTU SHAVIGE:

Once the dough is ready to use a Shavige maker or Chakkuli maker to make Ottu shavige. Make around 3 balls fill it into the dough maker and press it. Use the Thenzgol press or the Omam Pudi press which has large holes or small holes whichever you choose and make the Shavige.

Press the shavige into Idli plates or some vessel you can use for a steamer. Place it in a cooker and steam just like you make Idlies for 12 to 15 minutes.
Take it out and spread it on a plate so they don't One another.

I have made a powder to use for the Bath, Here is how you make that powder to the Bath

CURRY LEAVES POWDER:
INGREDIENTS:
1 & 1/2 Tbsp Channa Dal
1/2 tbsp Urad Dal
25 curry Leaves
1 tsp Black Pepper
2 flakes of Tamarind
1/2 tsp Oil

METHOD:
In a wok fry with a tsp of oil, all the above said ingredients until a nice aroma comes out and the dals change colour. Once the dals cool down powder it and keep it ready.

HOW TO MAKE RAGI SEMIYA (NOODLES) / OTTU SHAVIGE BATH:

INGREDIENTS:
3 to 4 Tbsp of oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp of channa dal
1/2 tbsp of urad dal
few curry leaves
1/4 fresh coconut
few coriander leaves
Salt as required

METHOD:
In a large wok, heat oil add mustard seeds, once they splutter add the green chilies, dals and curry leaves and fry for few minutes in a medium flame once they change colour.
Add the steamed Ottu shavige and salt as required mix well and carefully so they don't break up, then add the curry leaves powder around 3 to 4 tbsp (use it as per your taste).
Mix everything well close a lid and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes switch of the stove remove the lid sprinkle fresh coconut and chopped fresh coriander leaves thoroughly mix everything together.
Serve warm and enjoy this Ragi Semiya (noodles).

Verdict: My family loves it, according to my children you won't even know that it is made of Ragi.

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Ragi / Finger Millet Semiya (Noodles)

Most delicious and healthy breakfast which you would be fulfilling and no compromise on taste

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 3

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING OTTU SHAVIGE
• 1 Cup Ragi / Finger Millet Flour
• 1 & 1/2 Cup Water
• 1 tsp Oil
• 1 tsp salt
• CURRY LEAVES POWDER FOR RAGI OTTU SHAVIGE BATH
• INGREDIENTS:
• 1 & 1/2 Tbsp Channa Dal
• 1/2 tbsp Urad Dal
• 25 curry Leaves
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 2 flakes of Tamarind
• 1/2 tsp Oil
• In a wok fry with a tsp of oil all the above said ingredients until a nice aroma comes out and the dals change colour. Once the dals cool down powder it and keep it ready.
• INGREDIENTS TO MAKE RAGI OTTU SHAVIGE BATH:
• 3 to 4 Tbsp of oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp of channa dal
• 1/2 tbsp of urad dal
• few curry leaves
• 1/4 fresh coconut
• few coriander leaves
• Salt as required

Instructions

• METHOD FOR MAKING OTTU SHAVIGE:
• In a heavy-bottomed vessel add water and a tsp of oil and salt allow it to boil. Once it starts boiling bring it to a low flame. In a cup take 1 to 2 tbsp of water and dissolve a tsp of ragi flour dissolve it and add it to the boiling water, after a minute add the flour into the vessel in the middle and immerse a wooden stick or a spatula or label in it. Close the lid (it won't close completely) not to worry. Leave it for 7 to 8 minutes, water starts rising to cover the flour. Remove the lid and switch of the stove, stir vigorously to bring all the flour together, sprinkle little more water and close the lid.
• After 2 minutes, remove it on to a plate. It will be very hot so dip your hand in water every time, start bringing the dough together into a dough ball. Knead the dough into a smooth ball.
• Now your base for the Ottu shavige dough is ready.
• HOW TO MAKE RAGI OTTU SHAVIGE / SEMIYA:
• Once the dough is ready to use a Shavige maker or Chakkuli maker to make Ottu shavige. Make around 3 balls fill it into the dough maker and press it. Use the Thenzgol press or the Omam Pudi press which has large holes or small holes whichever you choose and make the Shavige.
• Press the shavige into Idli plates or some vessel you can use for steamer. Place it in a cooker and steam just like you make Idlies for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Take it out and spread it on a plate so they don't One another.
• HOW TO MAKE RAGI OTTU SHAVIGE BATH:
• In a wok fry with a tsp of oil, all the above said ingredients until a nice aroma comes out and the dals change colour. Once the dals cool down powder it and keep it ready.

Notes

When using the curry leaves powder to use it according to your taste you can increase or decrease the powder to your liking.
When mixing the Ottu shavige handle it carefully so they don't break up too much.
Using of Green chilies is optional.

The post Ragi / Finger Millet Semiya (Noodles) appeared first on My Veg Fare.

When the cookie monster attacks you, you can't just eat one and leave it especially these cookies :),  That's how my kids feel when they eat these cookies.  My children have declared that  this is the best cookie their mamma makes.  This is the best oatmeal cookies you can dream off.  I mean you can think off.  I would actually like to dedicate this cookie to my dear friend Madhuri, she loved them so much, she kept pestering me to post the recipe ( this was around 2 years back!! ) at last I made it to the blog!. I have been making these from around 3 to 4 years back, I know I never posted it.  It was usually in a jiffy I used to make it for some reason or the other, either to pack it for my kids or gift it to somebody and never got time to take photos, Oh! No, I did once but they were crap so discarded them.

These cookies are a killer combination, I would say combination made in heaven. If you have visited my blog you would notice that I love orange and chocolate combination a lot, works out perfectly a match made in heaven. I would say just like Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil on a Bruchetta.

 I would actually like to dedicate this cookie to my dear friend Madhuri, she loved them so much, she kept pestering me to post the recipe ( this was around 2 years back!! ) at last I made it to the blog!. I have been making these from around 3 to 4 years back, I know! you did guess it right ? I never posted it.  It was usually in a jiffy I used to make these cookies either to pack it for my kids or gift it to somebody and never got time to take photos.  Oh! No, I did once but they were crap so I have discarded them.  Now, don't go there, I know what you are thinking :), do you (me) rate that these cookie photos are good? well, then I would say to my caliber I think they are Ok! Aha...

This is my top notch recipe. Everybody who has tasted my cookie love it.  I have always got a good feedback from everybody.  You should try it out and tell me if you like it.  Baking cookies is an easy peasy job and also kids would love to get involved, They are all grown up now and they don't get time to do things which they enjoyed when they were little.

Did I tell you, we had been getting some jobs done in our house and we had people working for various jobs and I fed them with my cookies and asking them about how they would rate it.  I remember one chap thinking!! he started munching and went on saying Mmm.., these are really delicious I can get the taste of orange and it really is crispy and chewy and very tasty.  This was my recent appreciation which I received from somebody whom I never knew before because I told them I was a blogger and would really appreciate their honest opinion.  what else would I need, one happy satisfied baker, they even asked me for the recipe!

Orange, Oates, Raisin and Chocolate chip Cookies

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Breakfast/Tea-time snack
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Shelf time: 4 to 5 days
Makes: 15 to 18 cookies

Ingredients:

1 ¾ (175 grms) Cup Rolled Oats
50 grms ( 1/3 cup) Whole wheat flour (atta)
75 grm Butter
½ tsp Baking powder
1/8 th tsp Baking Soda
1 Cup Orange Juice ( from 2 Oranges)
2/3 cup Brown Sugar
¼ cup Raisins (dried grapes)
¼ cup Chocolate chips
2 to 3 tbsp of Orange zest

Method:

Zest the Oranges, Squeeze the Orange juice ( I got nearly one cup of orange juice minus 1 tbsp) and keep aside

Take a large bowl take butter and sugar blend them well until well combined.  To this add Oats, whole wheat flour mix them with your hand until they resemble like crumbs to this Baking powder and Baking soda. Mix well.

Mix Oats, whole wheat flour , Baking powder and Baking soda. Take these dried ingredients and mix well with the above mixture using your hands they will resemble like crumbs.

Add Orange juice and zest and make it into a dough-like consistency, to this add chocolate chips and Raisins.

The dough will be a bit sticky not to worry it will be fine.  At this stage put it in a refrigerator for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees for  15 minutes.

Take a cookie sheet place a parchment paper, using a scoop make round balls and flatten them a bit and place them on the sheet with a gap of 1 to 1/2''.

Place the cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes depending upon your oven temperature.  you will notice that it is turning into golden in colour.  Take it out and allow it cool, before munching.

Notes:

1. I have baked these cookies many  times in different ways.  I have used just oats only without any flour and it turns out really well.
2. You can bake it with one large Egg if you like to use egg in your baking.
3. You can substitute all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour.
4. So, which Oats to use? you can use any Oats, I use porridge oats or Rolled oats, If the Oats are thick just grind it into a powder and use it as needed.

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Orange, Oats and Raisin chocolate chip Cookies - Eggless

These cookies are so delicious with the goodness of Oats and Raisins and with bursting flavours from the Oranges

Course Breakfast/on the go

Cuisine International Cuisine

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 15 -18

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ 175 grms Cup Rolled Oats
• 50 grms 1/3 cup Whole wheat flour (atta)
• 75 grm Butter
• ½ tsp Baking powder
• 1/8 th tsp Baking Soda
• 1 Cup Orange Juice from 2 Oranges
• 2/3 cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Raisins dried grapes
• ¼ cup Chocolate chips
• 2 to 3 tbsp of Orange zest

Instructions

• Zest the Oranges, Squeeze the Orange juice ( I got nearly one cup of orange juice minus 1 tbsp) and keep aside
• Take a large bowl take butter and sugar blend them well until well combined. To this add Oats, whole wheat flour mix them with your hand until they resemble like crumbs to this Baking powder and Baking soda. Mix well.
• Mix Oats, whole wheat flour , Baking powder and Baking soda. Take these dried ingredients and mix well with the above mixture using your hands they will resemble like crumbs.
• Add Orange juice and zest and make it into a dough-like consistency, to this add chocolate chips and Raisins.
• The dough will be a bit sticky not to worry it will be fine. At this stage put it in a refrigerator for 1/2 to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Take a cookie sheet place a parchment paper, using a scoop make round balls and flatten them a bit and place them on the sheet with a gap of 1 to 1/2''.
• Place the cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes depending upon your oven temperature. you will notice that it is turning into golden in colour. Take it out and allow it cool, before munching.

Notes

I have baked these cookies many times in different ways. I have used just oats only without any flour and it turns out really well.
You can bake it with one large Egg if you like to use egg in your baking.
You can substitute all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour.
So, which Oats to use? you can use any Oats, I use porridge oats or Rolled oats, If the Oats are thick just grind it into a powder and use it as needed.

The post Orange, Oats and Raisin chocolate chip Cookies - Eggless appeared first on My Veg Fare.

My neighbour Manu Aunty back home is the most wonderful lady I have ever come across, we get acquainted when I was 15 yrs Old!  I still remember it as if it was yesterday.   Our acquaintance turned into a strong bond.  I used to go with her to all her family functions!, I became one of her family members.  It was all such fun when we were young we used to enjoy so much going around with her to all the family trips and every family functions.  She is basically a Jain and I learnt a lot of cooking from her she was born and brought up from Mysore, but her parents were north Karnataka, you could see the touch of Dharwad, Belgaum, style in her cooking.  I learnt quite a lot of dishes from her and her relatives.  Remember the Maavinhannina Seekarne (Mango Milk Shake) I have posted long back, was one such dish I saw her family serve it with obattu(poli).  She makes obattu in a different way will post her recipe someday soon.

The Best are her Avarekaalu usli in the season with rice flour flat bread is simply awesome,  It will be so tasty.  I can keep writing about her cooking the whole day.  She is such a sweet lady I have never seen her with a sad face ever, she always has this beautiful smile feels like you are home.  She never sends anybody without serving them with some of her home-made delicacies.

Last time when I visited Bangalore, I always visit her as soon as possible, as she lives next door I jump to her house from our balcony!!, that's what I always do and my mum hates it, she thinks someday I might fall from there, but it's a quick way :).  So, when I went and knocked her door, she opened the door for me and we started chatting, we went straight to the kitchen as she was making morning breakfast and this is what she was making!!, I suddenly thought I want to capture it, I told her I will be back in a minute and jumped back into my house took my camera and came running back.  I had no props or anything but enjoyed taking photos of the process of favourite Rotti.., you can see step wise photos, hope you enjoy making and devouring it.

If you are familiar with making Ubbu Rotti/ Rice flour flat bread or Jowar Rotti this is one you can make easily as it is similar to that, You don't need anything special to serve this with as it is spicy already just with yoghurt it tastes really delicious.

Kaarad Rotti (Spicy Rice Flour Flat Bread)

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Source: Manu Aunty
Recipe Type : Breakfast/Indian
Prep time : 10 minutes
Cook time : 10 minutes
Serves : 3

Ingredients:
2 Cups Rice Flour
1/3 to 1/2 Cup Fresh Coconut
1 and 1/2 to 2 tsp Chilli powder
1 tsp Salt or as required
2 to 3 tbsp Finely chopped Coriander
1 Sprig curry leaves finely chopped
3/4 to 1 Cup of very warm water

Method:
In a bowl take Rice flour and all the other Ingredients except water, mix well now start adding water little by little for making a small ball. Don't make a ball with all the flour at once, It's better to make little by little.

You need to add rice flour liberally on to the surface and keep beating it around like you do in Jolada rotti turning it around so that it doesn't stick to the surface.

If you are unable to keep making it to round as big as she has made, it takes time to practice so, you can use rolling pin and make it to a round, don't forget to add rice flour liberally on to the surface now and then otherwise it will get stuck.  I would say start with little round balls and spread it more than your palm size to start with.

She has made a perfect round as you can see. slide it on to a plate and on to the tawa.

Once you have put it on the tawa, sprinkle water on top of it, so it gets wet all round, which helps in cooking.

Keep a wet cloth and press it around lightly this helps in making the rotti  fluff a little bit.

Add some oil on both sides of the rotti, and cook well on both the sides until you see little red spots.

Once it is done serve it with yoghurt which is really perfect for the summer weather.  I enjoyed it with some pickle.  She had more chilli powder so, it was very spicy and yoghurt was a good combo.  I went home and made the same breakfast but used less chilli powder so I served it with yoghurt and chutney powder mixed in it.

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Kaarad Rotti (Spicy Rice flour Indian flat Bread) #Gluten Free #NationalVegetarianweek #Vegan

Enjoy this spicy Rice rotti, for a delicious breakfast

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 2 Cups Rice Flour
• 1/3 to 1/2 Cup Fresh Coconut
• 1 and 1/2 to 2 tsp Chilli powder
• 1 tsp Salt or as required
• 2 to 3 tbsp Finely chopped Coriander
• 1 Sprig curry leaves finely chopped
• 3/4 to 1 Cup of very warm water

Instructions

• Method:
• In a bowl take Rice flour and all the other Ingredients except water, mix well now start adding water little by little for making a small ball. Don't make a ball with all the flour at once, It's better to make little by little.
• You need to add rice flour liberally on to the surface and keep beating it around like you do in Jolada rotti turning it around so that it doesn't stick to the surface.
• If you are unable to keep making it to round as big as she has made, it takes time to practice so, you can use rolling pin and make it to a round, don't forget to add rice flour liberally on to the surface now and then otherwise it will get stuck. I would say start with little round balls and spread it more than your palm size to start with.
• She has made a perfect round as you can see. slide it on to a plate and on to the tawa.
• Once you have put it on the tawa, sprinkle water on top of it, so it gets wet all round, which helps in cooking.
• Keep a wet cloth and press it around lightly this helps in making the rotti fluff a little bit.
• Add some oil on both sides of the rotti, and cook well on both the sides until you see little red spots.
• Once it is done serve it with yoghurt which is really perfect for the summer weather. I enjoyed it with some pickle. She had more chilli powder so, it was very spicy and yoghurt was a good combo. I went home and made the same breakfast but used less chilli powder so I served it with yoghurt and chutney powder mixed in it.

The post Kaarad Rotti (Spicy Rice flour Indian flat Bread) #Gluten Free #NationalVegetarianweek #Vegan appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi everybody how have you all been doing?  I am so happy Diwali has brought me a special gift in my blogging world!! Yup!  I am excited to share with you all are you interested in hearing? This is my first ever product review!  I never thought I would get a chance like this, when I was glancing through my mails on my iphone, I chanced upon an email from Indigo herbs saying products dispatched!  Excitedly I opened up my email to see what products they had sent I was jumping with joy in my heart  to see Organic Coconut flour, Organic Banana powder, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Raw white  Sesame Tahini paste, Organic Raw Black Sesame Tahini Paste.  Thank you Indigo Herbs for giving me an opportunity to create a recipe for you and so glad that I got a chance to try all these lovely products.

I have been quiet busy we had Diwali this week, did you all enjoy and had a safe Diwali.  I haven’t brought you what I made for Diwali but something different for a change, bake this for a thanksgiving celebration or for Christmas or for a birthday or just a weekend treat, well it’s so delicious you don’t need a reason to bake this cake.  My photos don’t make justice to this cake if you love coconut this is for you. I baked this cake a fortnight ago but, as I was prepping up for Diwali I couldn’t post it.

I am a bit of a health freak, I stopped baking regularly once I realised I was making my family eat too much unhealthy stuff, I started looking for things I could change to make it bit healthier say if not 100% at least to some extent, when I decided I started changing flours then how I could cut down on fat and refined sugar.  The thing which I still am unable to compensate is Sugar, my family have come to terms with flours and fat but not with sugar, they are fine with unrefined sugar but I am not allowed to reduce itJ.  So, I can’t do anything about it unfortunately.  When I shop I keep looking for different ingredients I can bake with one such product I had an eye for a long time was Coconut flour, I was always tempted to buy and try it out but somehow I kept postponing.  Probably I was waiting for a good Organic product as this one.

These days people have started thinking about their diet seriously, they are switching on to gluten free, dairy free, egg free, paleo diet etc.  So, here is your stop for Organic products to buy online which is worldwide shipped with a full postal guarantee.  I was so happy to receive emails telling me, its dispatched and when it will arriving then another email telling me when it will be delivered and who is delivering it, his name and what time!  Isn’t it fantastic?

Somerset is a county in South west England, and is known for its beautiful country side with rolling hills and is a beautiful country side.  Here in Somerset is Glastonbury is not just famous for a musical festival but also Indigo Herbs who are online suppliers of organically developed healthy/alternative life style products bringing about natural health products of the best quality as their website states.    They have brought about products for all kind of life style, organic blends which can be used as substitutes for different kinds of food diets.

As this was the first time I was using Coconut flour in my baking I had to do some research on how to use it, lots of people said it’s a very highly absorbent flour, some of them said you need to use a tried and tested recipe to get a perfect bake, it all scared me a bit, but as I had already decided to go with it.  I gave it a go, Coconut flour is a unique non-grain fibre rich protein highly absorbent flour.  Coconut flour is made from coconut milk when it is pressed the left over coconut bits that is the solid which is left over is dried over at low temperature and ground to produce a soft fine powder.  So we all know about coconut flour now let’s get baking with it.

Ingredients:
100grms Samai flour(little millet)
75 grms Sorghum flour ( Jowar)
40 grms Organic Coconut flour
145 grms Caster sugar
40 grms Organic Coconut sugar
150 grms Coconut milk
150 grms Pineapple puree
¼ Cup Organic extra virgin Coconut oil
¼  Cup Olive oil
1 ½ tsp Baking powder
½ tsp Baking soda
3 Eggs
3 tbsp Pineapple Juice

For the Chocolate layer (Optional)
20 grms Coco powder
2 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp of Pineapple juice

For the Icing:
1 Cup Icing Sugar sifted
1 tbsp Pineapple juice
¼ cup desiccated coconut

METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 180°C / Gas mark 4, Grease a Bundt cake with any of the gluten free flour about I mixed it with a bit of coconut flour as well.
In a bowl mix all the dry ingredients millet flour, sorghum flour, Baking powder and Baking soda sieve well and keep aside.
In another bowl mix the wet ingredients Coconut sugar, Caster sugar, coconut milk, Pineapple puree, coconut oil and olive oil blend them well together
In a bowl break one egg at a time and beat them well adding both the sugars until fluffy to this add the wet ingredients until smooth.
Completely incorporate the dry ingredients with the help of a spatula.
I made a Chocolate mixture using the ingredients above the chocolate layer heading.
Pour in the cake batter into the prepared Bundt tin in two parts layering the Chocolate mixture.
Bake this for about 55 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean when inserted near the tube of the tin.
Let it cool then release the cake around tap gently and unmold it from the pan onto a wire rack.
In a bowl combine the Icing sugar with the pineapple juice until it is thick and runny, pour this over the cooled cake allowing it to drip it down the sides of the cake then sprinkle some desiccated coconut over it to get a more coconut flavour if you prefer otherwise just leave it as it is.

Somethings to note:
Please check your oven as my oven very heated up I bake my cakes in Gas mark 3, I have mentioned above the usual cake baking temperature.  I baked my cake for 55 minutes.
I was just thinking I shouldn’t have used chocolate layer this way next time I would completely make it a chocolate cake or a marble swirl cake.
I have cut a circle in a cardboard using a Bundt pan and a hole in the middle and insert it into the tin, this helps the cake sliding on to the board nicely.
I have given 3 tbsp of pineapple juice don’t wonder why I have not said anything about it, as the batter had become slightly thicker than I wanted it to be I used it to thin it down.
I used Canned Pineapple and the juice from it, if you are going to use fresh pineapple just check if they are sweet otherwise you might end up with a sour cake and your sugar wouldn’t match it.
I have used canned coconut milk as well, buy the best product I did not use the water but the thick cream on top when you open it.
Hope you Enjoy baking this cake, My family and friends told me that it was very moist for a gluten free flour and they could never think it was a gluten free.  If you bake this cake do write to me and tell me how it turned out

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Gluten free, Dairy free, Coconut flour Pineapple cake

Gluten free, dairy free Coconut flour pineapple cake, rich and moist delicious cake

Course Dessert

Cuisine International

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 100 grms Samai flour little millet
• 75 grms Sorghum flour Jowar
• 40 grms Coconut flour
• 145 grms Caster sugar
• 40 grms Coconut sugar
• 150 grms Coconut milk
• 150 grms Pineapple puree
• ¼ Cup Coconut oil
• ¼ Cup Olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp Baking powder
• ½ tsp Baking soda
• 3 Eggs
• 3 tbsp Pineapple Juice
• For the Chocolate layer Optional
• 20 grms Coco powder
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp of Pineapple juice
• For the Icing:
• 1 Cup Icing Sugar sifted
• 1 tbsp Pineapple juice
• ¼ cup dessicated coconut

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 180°C / Gas mark 4, Grease a Bundt cake with any of the gluten free flour about I mixed it with a bit of coconut flour as well.
• In a bowl mix all the dry ingredients millet flour, sorghum flour, Baking powder and Baking soda sieve well and keep aside.
• In another bowl mix the wet ingredients Coconut sugar, Caster sugar, coconut milk, Pineapple puree, coconut oil and olive oil blend them well together
• In a bowl break one egg at a time and beat them well adding both the sugars until fluffy to this add the wet ingredients until smooth.
• Completely incorporate the dry ingredients with the help of a spatula.
• I made a Chocolate mixture using the ingredients above the chocolate layer heading.
• Pour in the cake batter into the prepared Bundt tin in two parts layering the Chocolate mixture.
• Bake this for about 55 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean when inserted near the tube of the tin.
• Let it cool then release the cake around tap gently and unmould it from the pan onto a wire rack.
• In a bowl combine the Icing sugar with the pineapple juice until it is thick and runny, pour this over the cooled cake allowing it to drip it down the sides of the cake then sprinkle some desiccated coconut over it to get a more coconut flavour if you prefer otherwise just leave it as it is.

Notes

Please check your oven as my oven very heated up I bake my cakes in Gas mark 3, I have mentioned above the usual cake baking temperature. I baked my cake for 55 minutes.
I was just thinking I shouldn’t have used chocolate layer this way next time I would completely make it a chocolate cake or a marble swirl cake.
I have cut a circle in a cardboard using a Bundt pan and a hole in the middle and insert it into the tin, this helps the cake sliding on to the board nicely.
I have given 3 tbsp of pineapple juice don’t wonder why I have not said anything about it, as the batter had become slightly thicker than I wanted it to be I used it to thin it down.
I used Canned Pineapple and the juice from it, if you are going to use fresh pineapple just check if they are sweet otherwise you might end up with a sour cake and your sugar wouldn’t match it.
I have used canned coconut milk as well, buy the best product I did not use the water but the thick cream on top when you open it.

Thank you Indigo Herbs for sending me these products. All the opinions is my own and are under no influence.

The post Gluten free, Dairy free, Coconut flour Pineapple cake appeared first on My Veg Fare.

I have been typing this post from a week! but something keeps cropping up, I kept writing it in bits and pieces,   I had almost done it and yesterday I thought Yay! I have done it and I can post, but  I lost everything as something happened and it didn't Autosave.  My internet has been playing up so much,  I am fed up.
Past week life has been so busy when the sun is up you just can't waste your time, my other passion is gardening, when summer is here the six months all my dormant plants come to life and they all need lots of love and care.   I am not really happy with the weather, it's the howling wind, which is giving me headaches.  I have this little green house, not anything expensive stuff but helps the purpose, the wind is so strong, I got so scared that it might bring down my greenhouse and all my hard work would be gone.
I am not really happy with the weather, it's the howling wind, which is giving me headaches.  I have this little green house, not anything expensive stuff but helps the purpose, the wind is so strong, I got so scared that it might bring down my greenhouse and all my hard work would be gone, last year we had the same kind of the wind which broke my fence.
This post had to be on the blog on 24th last month, I bake with few wonderful blogger friends who have the same ilk like me, baking bread is something we all love - We Knead to bake #27, Yup this our 27th Bread,   I haven't posted my breads which I baked these group for some time, after a long time here is mine, absolutely gorgeous bread thanks Aprana for this wonderful bread.  This bread has been Reproduced from  5oo Breads from Carol Beckerman, I have tweaked the bread with little things and I haven't changed anything much  I have used Khorsan Flour with the bread flour to make it bit healthier otherwise the recipe is just the same.
This is a Breakfast Bread, that's what I told my kids, but they just loved it, especially my son, he kept coming for seconds and thirds, he just couldn't stop with 2 slices!, Let's see how this bread is baked,
I baked this bread in a big loaf tin, this dough makes 2 loaves, I would definitely suggest you to use 2 loaf tins as suggested it makes 2 medium sized loaves.

AN ORANGE AND CINNAMON SWIRL BREAD
(Reproduced from 500 Breads by Carol Beckerman)

INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp Sugar
2/3 cup warm + 1/4 cup*
2 tsp dry yeast
450 grms Bread flours
100 grms Khorsan flour*
3 tbsp Sugar
2 Eggs
1/3 cup Juice and finely grated zest of 1 Orange
5tbsp Apricot Preserve
1 tbsp Cinnamon powder
1/2 cup Brown sugar
Oil for greasing

EQUIPMENT:
8'' X 4''  2 loaf tins

METHOD:
Grease two Loaf tins with oil, In a large bowl take 2 to 3 tbsp of water sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar and yeast, leave it for few minutes watch it when it starts to bubble up, so now we know that the yeast is active.  To this add, 3 tbsp of sugar, eggs and flour ( Sieve the flours together twice so that they are well blended together), zest, Juice, and water make it into a somewhat firm dough.
Knead this dough for 10 minutes to a smooth dough, take a large bowl oil the bowl and coat the dough completely with oil and leave it for 1 to  1 and 1/2 hours in a warm place until it doubled in size.
Once doubled punch the dough and knead it a few minutes until it is firm, Roll the dough into 6 x 13'' rectangles, spread each rectangle with Apricot preserve, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  Roll up each rectangle into firm jelly roll and place them in the loaf tins cover it and leave it for further 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven 200C (400F), [I preheated the oven to Gas Mark 3 and baked it at gas mark 4 as my oven gets very hot ] brush it with milk and bake the loaves for 30 t0 35 minutes until the loaf is golden brown in colour and the bottom when tapped sounds hollow.  Cool it on a wire rack, This recipe makes 2 loaves.

NOTES:
As I have used Khorsan flour and Bread flour I had to use an extra 1/4 cup of water, if using All purpose flour according to the Original recipe it uses 3 1/2 of Flour and 2/3 rd cup warm water or else you can just use bread flour and probably need the extra 1/4 cup of water

Enjoy and this is Yeast spotted

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We Knead to Bake #27 - An Orange and Cinnamon Roll

sweet and delicious, scrumptions on the go Breakfast bread

Course Breakfast

Prep Time 3 hours hours

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings 2 Loaves

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 tsp Sugar
• 2/3 cup warm + 1/4 cup*
• 2 tsp dry yeast
• 450 grms Bread flours
• 100 grms Khorsan flour*
• 3 tbsp Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1/3 cup Juice and finely grated zest of 1 Orange
• 5 tbsp Apricot Preserve
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon powder
• 1/2 cup Brown sugar
• Oil for greasing

Instructions

• Grease two Loaf tins with oil, In a large bowl take 2 to 3 tbsp of water sprinkle 1 tsp of sugar and yeast, leave it for few minutes watch it when it starts to bubble up, so now we know that the yeast is active. To this add, 3 tbsp of sugar, eggs and flour ( Sieve the flours together twice so that they are well blended together), zest, Juice, and water make it into a somewhat firm dough.
• Knead this dough for 10 minutes to a smooth dough, take a large bowl oil the bowl and coat the dough completely with oil and leave it for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours in a warm place until it doubled in size.
• Once doubled punch the dough and knead it a few minutes until it is firm, Roll the dough into 6 x 13'' rectangles, spread each rectangle with Apricot preserve, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Roll up each rectangle into firm jelly roll and place them in the loaf tins cover it and leave it for further 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven 200C (400F), [I preheated the oven to Gas Mark 3 and baked it at gas mark 4 as my oven gets very hot ] brush it with milk and bake the loaves for 30 t0 35 minutes until the loaf is golden brown in colour and the bottom when tapped sounds hollow. Cool it on a wire rack, This recipe makes 2 loaves.

Notes

As I have used Khorsan flour and Bread flour I had to use an extra 1/4 cup of water, if using All purpose flour according to the Original recipe it uses 3 1/2 of Flour and 2/3 rd cup warm water or else you can just use bread flour and probably need the extra 1/4 cup of water

The post We Knead to Bake #27 - An Orange and Cinnamon Roll appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi everybody, how are you all doing? I am doing very well, a wee bit busy though.  Well, it’s not my mistake for sure, I do try to sit in front of my computer but whenever I look out of my window, my Garden beckons me with longing to fold me in her bare blanket pleading me to print and paint beautiful spring colours.  Summer is definitely around the corner for sure, fingers crossed, I have bought loads of seeds and my little greenhouse is ready.

I didn't pay some  hi-fi price to buy it, hope it can withstand all the weather changes we go through. Last time I had hard time ripening my Tomatoes.  As the weather keeps changing it’s very difficult to maintain the temperature the plants need.  I am  not planning to grow too many vegetables this year, looking after them is a big problem with all kind of creatures crawling and flying around giving me a hard time in getting rid of them.

I have a lot of perrineal and Hardy plants coming back every year to adorn my garden, I have also planted a few flowering plants and love to see them bloom.  It’s this time of the year I get all up my bulbs coming up with beautiful coloured flowers, Daffodils, Tulips, tuberose and many more.

With all the greenery around, and the hot sun drying me out of any hydration in my body craved for something fresh, and juicy,  that was when I started thinking of salads, Fresh vegetables and fruits. Once you put your little grey cells to work, as Poirot says they always come up with different ideas.

Right at that time my daughter calls me to ask, if I did remember what she wanted to eat when she comes back to visit me, I knew what she wanted and said I would keep it ready by the time she is home. when I am in the Garden I keep losing track of  time, so when she called me I had no idea what time it was, she said she has already boarded her train and  is coming home. I got a bit tensed up, she will be home in 1 ½ to 2 hrs time before I could make Burger Buns and the Burgers to go with it, that was when I remembered a 40 minute Hamburger Bun topic in one of the FB groups I follow.  Immediately browsed through my phone and found the recipe from Taste of Home.  I decided on giving that a try.

My recipe is an inspiration and minimally adapted from Taste of Home but with my own little modifications, I mean tweaks, First of all I did not  use egg as suggested so I made it eggless, then didn’t want to use so much Yeast so cut it down and Oil which was wee bit more to my liking.  With all these elements in my mind I came out with this recipe, and believe it or not it was so soft and the house smelled like heaven, kids gave a thumbs sign saying the Buns were very soft.

Recipe source:  Inspired by Taste of Home
Prep time: 5 min (measuring ingredients)
Starter + kneading time: 15 minutes
Rest time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 8 to 13 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp – Yeast
2 tbsp – Sugar
2 tbsp – Potato Starch
1 tsp – Salt
3 tbsp – Oil (I used extra virgin Olive Oil)
1 Slice of Bread (¼ cup of Bread crumbled)
325 -350 ml warm water (around 1 ¼ cup )
350-375 grams or 3 ½ cup of Bread Flour (I used Hovis white Bread flour)

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40 minutes Vegan Burger Buns

40 minute Hamburger Buns very soft and delicious to savour with anything and it is vegan!

Course Breakfast /Brunch /Meal/Dinner

Cuisine International

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 9 or 12

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• INGREDIENTS:
• 1 tbsp – Yeast
• 2 tbsp – Sugar
• 2 tbsp – Potato Starch
• 1 tsp – Salt
• 3 tbsp – Oil I used extra virgin Olive Oil
• 1 Slice of Bread ¼ cup of Bread crumbled
• 325 -350 ml warm water around 1 ¼ cup
• 350-375 grams or 3 ½ cup of Bread Flour I used Hovis white Bread flour

Instructions

• Method:
• In a large bowl take yeast and sugar and pour 2 to 3 tbsp of warm water and let it rest for 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl using a ¼ cup of warm water dissolve potato starch, salt and bread. Let it get mashed up well.
• Meanwhile, you would have noticed bubbles forming up in your yeast mixture, to this add the above potato starch mixture and mix well.
• To this now add flour and warm water, to form a soft dough, you might feel it a bit sticky not to worry everything will be fineJ.
• Turn this dough onto your kitchen counter dust your hands with flour and start kneading until very smooth and elastic at least 7 to 8 minutes. DO NOT LET IT RISE very important.
• Divide this into pieces as per you like either 12 or less I made around 9 pieces perfect for my burger.
• Shape each piece into a ball, place them on a flour dusted Baking sheet giving them 3 to 4-inch space between them.
• Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. Brush it with milk.
• Bake at 425°, I baked it around Gas Mark 6 as I have a Gas oven and it gets pretty hot, 10 to 13 minutes depending on your oven temperature until golden brown. Once done place it on a wire rack, give 5 to 6 minutes, remove it from the sheet and transfer it on to a wire rack directly to cool completely, this ensures no soggy bottom.

Notes

You can small 12 or 9 Bigger Buns, you can add instead of Butter if you wish, if you don't get potato starch not to worry add 2 to 3 tbsp of cooked potato or cooked Rice just to make it soft. Even try using cornstarch or Tofu you have varied choices to substitute but don't omit the Bread slice

Method:
In a large bowl take yeast and sugar and pour 2 to 3 tbsp of warm water and let it rest for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl using a ¼ cup of warm water dissolve potato starch, salt and bread. Let it get mashed up well.
Meanwhile, you would have noticed bubbles forming up in your yeast mixture, to this add the above potato starch mixture and mix well.
To this now add flour and warm water, to form a soft dough, you might feel it a bit sticky not to worry everything will be fineJ.
Turn this dough onto your kitchen counter dust your hands with flour and start kneading until very smooth and elastic at least 7 to 8 minutes. DO NOT LET IT RISE very important.
Divide this into pieces as per you like either 12 or less I made around 9 pieces perfect for my burger.
Shape each piece into a ball, place them on a flour dusted Baking sheet giving them 3 to 4-inch space between them.
Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. Brush it with milk.
Bake at 425°, I baked it around Gas Mark 6 as I have a Gas oven and it gets pretty hot, 10 to 13 minutes depending on your oven temperature until golden brown.  Once done place it on a wire rack, give 5 to 6 minutes, remove it from the sheet and transfer it on to a wire rack directly to cool completely, this ensures no soggy bottom.

The post 40 minutes Vegan Burger Buns appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi everyone! How’s everyone been? I’ve been great, and for the past few day’s I’ve been getting back into writing out my recipes and working on my blog. On the last Sunday of March, which was the 29^th at 1am the clocks went forward one hour. In England this means, it’s the beginning of summer, which means we have more light in the evening Yay! Ah but the thought of summer brings joy, I am one of the happiest people today. I do enjoy winter, it has its own beauty, and sadly the only boring part of winter is the darkness that arrives too early. I hate to photograph my foods as I cook most of the time at night. Night photography with no special equipment and not having any perfect spots for my photo shoots becomes a tedious job… not that I am a pro in photography but natural light is a plus point. When it is not available I lose interest, compiled with all these natural disasters and my lack of knowledge using my camera to its full extent is a long road to tread, one such example is the photos of my cookies which I have published here.

Anyway let’s not go too much into my photography adventures. Summer is around the corner, I love the sunshine and the beautiful gardens I see where ever I go.  Britain looks glorious love the gardens, the nature, the greenery, beautiful flowers and most importantly the people become bright and smiling.  Hmm.., I can go on and on.  Sometimes when we are lucky in this part of the world the beautiful early morning rays of the sun peeping through my window curtain makes me bake something, makes me feel I want to create something. Play around with the ingredients in my pantry.

When my kids are around I feel very energetic and crave to cook and bake something different (they are here now again for their Easter Holidays). I need somebody to taste, be a critique and tell me if I can blog my recipe with confidence. Now I keep giving my bakes to friends who would tell me what they think, I have got a few bakes I will be posting approved by my family and friends, I don’t know how you like it as I have played with different flours and it might not be everybody’s cup of tea, it will be a taste acquired.

To tell you the truth, I have been going through a bloggers block, somehow I keep postponing to write anything. Today I decided if I don’t do it I will never do, I will keep piling up my photos and they will never see the light of the day, I mean literally. Also, I have few followers and subscribers who like my style and I don’t want to disappoint themJ.

These cookies I made for my eldest she loves citrus flavour and pistachios, first time when I made these my kids who live away from home said they needed something to munch on when they are studying late in the night! And took everything away, kind off my eldest she packed them away saying that mum will anyway bake again. I baked a few different cookies for them, I will post the others soon.  So, I had to bake for my eldest again and this time I took some photos, I even shared these cookies with my neighbours and friends they all said it was lovely. Now my friends have also come to know I don’t use plain flour and I think they have started liking the taste or should I say they are getting used to the taste 🙂 and enjoy my bakes.

Recipe Source: Jayasri
Cuisine : International
Prep time : 10 minutes
cook time : 15 minutes
Yields : 20 to 25

Ingredients:
100 grams Rice flour
75 grams Quinoa Flour
75 grams Pistachio powdered
40 grams Plain flour
75 grams Butter
1 Lime zest
Juice of 1 Lime
3/4 th tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Baking soda
200 grams Sugar
A pinch of salt
1 Egg (optional / if you want to make it eggless omit egg from the recipe)
1/3 cup chopped pistachio kernels for decorating

Method:

Preheat the over to 350 F (175 degrees)
Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper
First mix all the flours together with salt, Pistachio powder, Baking powder and Baking soda, sift 2 to 3 times well enough and set aside in a bowl.
Take sugar and butter and cream them well together, If using Egg after creaming butter and sugar add Egg at this stage and beat well together add the grated zest of Lime and also Juice of 1 Lime as well.
Now add the mixed flours into these creamed batter, mix well together no need to over beat, blend everything well enough it comes into a dough like consistency.
Roll little balls in your hand and place them a little away from each other
Press the balls slightly and brush them with milk or water then top them with chopped pistachios and press them a little so they get stuck to the cookie dough.
Bake these cookies for 15 minutes max
once done take them out, slide the next tray for baking, meanwhile once it is cooled store them in an airtight container and stays for a week

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Eggless Quinoa Lemon and Pistachio cookies

These cookies are not too sweet, but delicious with lemony and pistachio flavoured

Course snacks

Cuisine International

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 20 to 25

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 100 grams Rice flour
• 75 grams Quinoa Flour
• 75 grams Pistachio powdered
• 40 grams Plain flour
• 75 grams Butter
• 1 Lime zest
• Juice of 1 Lime
• 3/4 th tsp Baking powder
• 1/4 tsp Baking soda
• 200 grams Sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 Egg optional / if you want to make it eggless omit egg from the recipe
• 1/3 cup chopped pistachio kernels for decorating

Instructions

• Preheat the over to 350 F (175 degrees)
• Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper
• First mix all the flours together with salt, Pistachio powder, Baking powder and Baking soda, sift 2 to 3 times well enough and set aside in a bowl.
• Take sugar and butter and cream them well together, If using Egg after creaming butter and sugar add Egg at this stage and beat well together add the grated zest of Lime and also Juice of 1 Lime as well.
• Now add the mixed flours into these creamed batter, mix well together no need to over beat, blend everything well enough it comes into a dough like consistency.
• Roll little balls in your hand and place them a little away from each other
• Press the balls slightly and brush them with milk or water then top them with chopped pistachios and press them a little so they get stuck to the cookie dough.
• Bake these cookies for 15 minutes max
• once done take them out, slide the next tray for baking, meanwhile once it is cooled store them in an airtight container and stays for a week

Notes

These cookies can be made with just plain flour but don't forget to add powdered pistachio
Substitute butter with oil or coconut oil but will have a coconut flavour for a vegan variation.

.

The post Eggless Quinoa Lemon and Pistachio cookies appeared first on My Veg Fare.