– 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.

- Russell Baker

When the sun hits your head, you need to quench your thirst first ? and for me, I just love drinking plain water.  But, sometimes I don't mind drinking fresh fruit juice.  When we get lots of fresh fruit in the market we can have 5 a day or 10 a day 🙂 make juice or make a salad but just enjoy it. Do you love fruits? Then you are  my  list of best friends ever.  Summer brings out some beautiful flowers, fruits,  and veggies.

Sun was in his full glory, that doesn't mean it reaches 42 - 43C as in India.  When it reaches 25-27C it's unbearable for us here, In my part of the world sun is still playing Hide and seek.  It's been pouring non-stop from past 3 days got tired of seeing rain for so long, I did so much gardening repotted my plants, added new plants, had to dig out weeds and add fresh compost as I have a very clayey soil, it's  hard work.  but love my garden when they are in full bloom.  At least for six months I can enjoy seeing them.

With all the hard work I get some perks as well! three thorns got into fingers, I just ignored the two but the third one was too stubborn, I couldn't sleep the whole night as it became blue and swollen and it was my thumb finger!  so, no gardening the next day but had to go to the  emergency unit to get rid of my splinters, the nurse was smiling and said you come every year just for this.  I had a tetanus injection because I don't know if I had one when I was a kid and my parents can't remember!  Anyways thank God! she removed it and I had trouble cooking and cleaning as it was paining severely.

Am I talking too much pouring away my stories as usual, getting back to this drink, Just before the summer starts in India we have a festival called Rama Navami, it's this time of the year which tells you the summer begins,  In India festivals always are accompanied with loads of savouries and sweets, but this festival is celebrated with just a very few interesting recipes which can be mustered up in few minutes.

Ram Navami means it's just panaka ( a delicious cooling drink) Majjige (Buttermilk /chaas) and Kosambari ( with Moong dal and cucumber).  This is served in all the temples and in homes when you visit on that day!  I could go ahead and say that our ancestors tailored the recipes accordingly to the regions and seasons in which we live in India.  They had a purpose for every recipe and the different oils used in different regions also are apt to that place and their life style.  Back to Ram Navami  as I was telling earlier as it is the time when the summer sets in we get different fruits and vegetables which need to be eaten as it is seasonal and helps you stay strong in the hot summer, you can see loads of Melons ( watermelon/ Honey dew melon/Musk Melon/ Cantaloupe) and loads of cucumber, wood apple, Mangoes and Many more.   Melons and cucumbers as you know has loads of water content in them and helps  you hydrated so, that's why in this festival they serve you with this kind of recipes.  Interesting isn't it?

Yellow Melons are called Kharbooza in Urdu. Both the melons smell gorgeous when you hold it and smell it.  The perfectly riped melons smell awesome.  They really are sweet and taste like honey.

Do you have something like this in your place, it need not have to be a festival but what you would eat most as  your Mother's and Grandmother's made for you to eat during summer time. what are those special fruits and veggies which you find during summer time,  These days you can find everything all through the year which is not what you really need right?

My Mom made these every year during summer but she used to make different types of drinks for us to enjoy the whole of summer, my Mom was a school teacher, it was fun as she used to get holidays as we got!  My Mom is a creative cook and she loved experimenting and it was fun to have her at home as she never got tired of spending more time in the kitchen even with the unbearable heat wave.  This drink brings me loads of memories.

Musk/Honey Dew Melon Drink

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe Type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4
Shelf Time: 2 days

Ingredients:
Any Melon of your choice (Musk/Honey-dew)- 1
Jaggery/Gaur - 1/2 Cup
2 to 3 - Cardamom
2 to 3 Cups - water

Method:
Wash and dry, Cut open the Melon and remove the seeds.
Using a melon baller scoop out few melon balls for garnishing when you serve.
With a spoon scoop out all the flesh and mash it well. ( My Mom used to squash it using her hand to a pulp)
In 2 to 3 cups of water or you can use more water adjust to the consistency you like!, there's not an exact measurement for this.
Dissolve the grated jaggery until it dissolves then filter it through a sieve. Usually, they have impurities, as this is a raw product.
Then mix the squash of the melon and chill it in your fridge and serve it.
Oops! Don't forget to add some crushed cardamom powder.
Enjoy!

Notes:
It shouldn't become too squashed like grinding it in a mixie. But if you preferred to do so you can do it if you don't want to use your hand!
There is no exact measurement of water, If the melons are very sweet you don't need a lot of Jaggery.
Jaggery comes in round blocks or square blocks, grate or mash them up and use them as you require depending on the sweetness of the melons. Jaggery/Gaur is a sweetener used in India, it is not a processed sugar and is the raw product of cane and is a better option than sugar.

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Musk / Honey Dew Melon ( Galia / Kharbooza) #Drink OR Make a #salad!

Most delicious and awesome drink, You would want it a second and third helping.

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• Any Melon of your choice Musk/Honey-dew- 1
• Jaggery/Gaur - 1/2 Cup
• 2 to 3 - Cardamom
• 2 to 3 Cups - water

Instructions

• Method:
• Wash and dry, Cut open the Melon and remove the seeds.
• Using a melon baller scoop out few melon balls for garnishing when you serve.
• With a spoon scoop out all the flesh and mash it well. ( My Mom used to squash it using her hand to a pulp)
• In 2 to 3 cups of water or you can use more water adjust to the consistency you like!, there's not an exact measurement for this.
• Dissolve the grated jaggery until it dissolves then filter it through a sieve. Usually, they have impurities, as this is a raw product.
• Then mix the squash of the melon and chill it in your fridge and serve it.
• Oops! Don't forget to add some crushed cardamom powder.
• Enjoy!

Notes

Notes:
It shouldn't become too squashed like grinding it in a mixie. But if you preferred to do so you can do it if you don't want to use your hand!
There is no exact measurement of water, If the melons are very sweet you don't need a lot of Jaggery.
Jaggery comes in round blocks or square blocks, grate or mash them up and use them as you require depending on the sweetness of the melons. Jaggery/Gaur is a sweetener used in India, it is not a processed sugar and is the raw product of cane and is a better option than sugar.

The post Musk / Honey Dew Melon ( Galia / Kharbooza / Canteloupe ) #Drink OR Make a #salad! appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Three weeks ago one fine day, yes, I mean it! I know you are wondering fine and English weather not a good combination, but a big YES! just like today :).  It was a  beautiful sunny day for almost a week and I was so thrilled to think that finally the spring is here, my tulips have all blossomed beautifully and my little cherry blossom tree is full of pink flowers and all the perennial shrubs are springing back to life.   I was literally dancing with joy! Ahem.., don't laugh if you are in this part of the world you would too!  I am a fanatic gardener, mean to say I am not an expert but love gardening I try my best to keep all my plants alive (most of the time).

Remember my post when  I told you about the wind which took off with my greenhouse and all the pots in it.   It destroyed few of my plants and pots, my garden was looking like somebody ransacked my garden with a vengence. Every day I used to stand in my conservatory and cry myself in my heart thinking when is all this going to be set right?  Sigh.

All these days I hadn't stepped out to clean up my garden, I hate to go out when it is cold and your hands go freezing. When the sun came up it was like a gold lining on every cloud visible.  My conservatory gets too hot when the sun is bright.  Anyways I was so excited at last I could clean up my garden did a lot of jobs cleaned out the whole garden got rid of all the weeds and made space for the sprouting plants.  Had to bin few pots and sorted out all compose and I have dumped them in a big bin so I can sort it out later, when doing all this I got really thirsty that was when I made this lemonade,  I make this  often because I love it!, If you taste it you would too.

It brings back memories, it's always going back to our memory lane! something to chew on when you are getting old. The good old memories bring joy, happiness, tenderness and all the sparkle in your eyes right? Just like spring.  Amma(mum) used to make this lemonade often made this for us to keep us hydrated.  Summer in India is unbearable we get our school holidays just for the kids to stay at home.  That's when we need lots and lots to drink, my parents never bought any aerated drinks for us it was always homemade and super healthy with  herbs and an Ayurvedic touch to it.  This is one such drink which we used to enjoy.

I don't make this lemonade just during summer, but whenever I feel I need some refreshing drink, As I don't drink any aerated drinks very rarely I take a sip or two of coco-cola or a fanta, I always love to drink fresh fruit juices.  This reminds me of Banglaore my home town, during summer we have all these shops spring up where they sell fresh fruit juices.  So,  when I went out I used to go looking for these kinds of shops where we would get fresh fruit juices. I don't get this  kind of happiness here, it's always bottled juices in our supermarkets!

Coming back to this recipe, it has a touch of Indian panakam (juice) recipe it's so delicious you will love it,  It has also turmeric and ginger which has anti-inflammatory properties, helps you in many ways good for joint pains, osteoporosis, digestion and has many health benefits.

LEMONADE WITH INDIAN SPICES

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Prep time: 10minutes
Time: 20 minutes
Shelf life: 1 month
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
3'' turmeric stick
2'' Ginger
3 cloves
3 to 4 cardamom pods
3 and 1/2 cups of water

Method:

Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom  and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them).  In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame.  Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.

Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

NOTES:

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

C you soon with a cold soup stay tuned and enjoy the weather.

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Lemonade with a Indian Spices

A very refreshing drink which is not only delicious but is loaded with aniti-inflammatory properties and keeps fresh and hydrate in summer

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
• 1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
• 3 '' turmeric stick
• 2 '' Ginger
• 3 cloves
• 3 to 4 cardamom pods
• 3 and 1/2 cups of water

Instructions

• Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them). In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame. Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.
• Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

Notes

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

The post Lemonade with Indian Spices appeared first on My Veg Fare.

I think this is the month of Dutch specialties  Yes, I will be posting an other one, which I baked but I haven't posted.  Already this post is 1 day late, This is a very delicious cake I baked,  so say our customers (@home!!), and they recommend my cake to our friends as well, My kids have been praising me so much, they just loved the coconut in it.., If your coconut maniac like me you will just love this, I myself couldn't resist eating it.

EGGLESS AND VEGAN DANISH CREAM CAKE - DROMMEKAGE FRA BROVST
Recipe source : Diana's Desserts

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE TOPPING 
100 grms dessicated coconut
225 grms of brown sugar
1/4 cup powdered oats
1 tbsp coconut oil

METHOD:
Preheat Gas Mark 4 / 180 C**
Grease a baking 8 - 9'' square or round tin with parchment paper and keep it ready.
Take all the dry Ingredients in a large bowl both the flours, baking powder and baking soda, sieve them all well together and keep aside.
.In an other bowl take coconut milk, vanilla essence, oil, Apple cider and coconut sugar, beat them all until well combined.
Immediately start adding the dry Ingredients in little quantities, until all of them is incorporated completely.
Pour this batter into the tin and bake for 20 - 25 minutes ***, until well baked or a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.
Meanwhile when it is baking make the topping and keep it ready.
Once the cake is ready remove it from the oven, leave the oven to 200 degree / Gas mark 5.
Spread the topping on top of the baked cake, put it back into the oven and bake it for an other 10 minutes, Remove it from the oven cut it into squares and serve it.

This total is not exactly a Danish cream cake, I have changed to my liking as this was a  challenge, we have made it Eggless according to the challenge.  To make it more healthier I have used Barley flour.  If you want the real Danish cream cake, check the link above and make this wonderful cake.  You will definitely love it.

VARIATION AND NOTES:
*I have used Barley flour for healthy baking you can just substitute with plain flour which might have a superb  texture and won't
** I baked this in Gas mark 3, as always I say my oven gets too hot and burns loads of my baking!!
*** As I baked it in lower Gas mark, I had to bake it for around 30-35 minutes.

VERDICT:
The cake was bit chewy, but very delicious, If you love coconut, this is the cake for you, My kids really loved it so much, I had never seen my children eating dessert immediately after food, they ate promptly and recommended to my friends too...
something new and something you should know...
I have used coconut palm sugar, which is not too sweet, it  was quite expensive, I started searching about this product and I have come to know much about it, I will do a post about this soon.., After that you can decide do you want to use it or not, I thought I could recommend it  to people with diabetes, even though it has low GI Index, it is high in fructose, as Googling I found out that sugar is sugar, and use it less is good.  This has a Caramalized taste, It is not too sweet, so your cake will not be too sweet, you can substitute ordinary sugar, brown sugar, caster sugar etc.., It is golden brown in colour and is unprocessed.

Sending this also to Anu's Healthy Recipe Substitution event
and Bake fest #16 of Vardhini's hosted by surabhi of My cook book

The post Eggless & Vegan Danish Cream Cake - Drommekage fra Brovst appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi Everybody, Hope you all had a wonderful Sankranthi / Bihu / Lohri / Pongal /Bhoghi whatever way you want to call it.., we all Hindu celebrate this festival with such festivity, the auspicious time and the rituals are so important to us, The important thing you might have noted is the day it falls on January 14th every year, which never changes once or twice exceptionally, where in it might fall on January 13th or 15th very rarely.
This festival is celebrated in different regions in different names and traditions, and different sweets made on this occasion.  As this is a harvest festival we use all kind of vegetables as well...
Courtesy Wikipedia...

Makar Sankranti is the day when the glorious Sun-God begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere and thus it signifies an event wherein the Sun-God seems to remind their children that 'Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya'- may you go higher & higher, to more & more Light and never to Darkness.

I have used Red Sugar Candy / Segappu Kalkandu / Kempu Kallu Sakkare which is said to be a good one compared to the white one, In  Ayurveda and Home remedies, you would find every body always asking  us to use in  Kashayams and  powders this as sweetener or Honey as sweetener  this also helps in cough, cold etc.., I do not have much knowledge about this.., If anybody know any tips on this do share it here in the comment so everybody will have a update on it...
Here is how I made it...

SWEET PONGAL WITH KALKANDU / KALLU SAKKARE / SUGAR CANDY
Cooking time: 40 minutes
Serves 2 to 3

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup Rice
3 tbsp Moong Dal / Pacchai or Paitham Paruppu / Hesaru Bele / Senagu pappu
180 grms Kalkandu / sugar candy /Kallu Sakkre*
1/4 cup Ghee
6 to 7 Broken Cashews
10 to 12 Raisins
1/4 tsp powdered Yelakka / Cardamom / Elakki
A Pinch of Edible Camphor / Pacchai Karpoora 
A Pinch of Nutmeg powder
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Water + 1/4 cup

METHOD:
In a frying pan add a 1/4 tsp of Ghee and fry Moong dal for few minutes in a low flame until it changes to golden colour and a nice aroma comes out of it.  Remove it on to a plate and keep it aside until needed.
In a Pressure cooker** take 1 cup of Milk with 1 cup of water add the roasted Moong dal and washed Rice together and cook for three whistles in medium flame.*** until well cooked.

Do this after your cooker is in the process of cooling... In a thick bottomed vessel take 1/4 cup of water and Sugar candy / Kalkandu / Kallu sakkre,  heat them together for few minutes until all the sugar candy dissolves in it, keep it in a low flame when doing this then filter the liquid and put it back on the stove. and boil it for 1 string consistency****
Once it has reached 1 string consistency immediately add the cooked rice to it, keep the stove in the low flame, to this add edible Camphor, powdered Cardamom  and Nutmeg powder and a 2 tbsp of ghee and close it with a lid.
Now in a small frying pan heat the remaining ghee, add the raisins first when they start bubbling up add the broken cashews when you see a light change in colour, switch of the stove and keep it aside this helps in not burning the cashews too much.

You can see that the Rice, Dal and Kalkandu mixture might be a bit liquidy, that is fine when it is still in a semi liquidy form remove it from the stove, garnish with raisins and cashews mix them well together and now it is ready to be served.

MY NOTES:
* I used 180 grams if you like it more sweeter you can increase it to 200 grms which would be sufficient
** I have used Pressure cooker for a quick version
Points to remember as it has got milk in it, you should be very careful I just cook it exactly for 13 minutes if it doesn't give out a whistle I just switch off the stove when it is 13 minutes.
***Other wise cook both dal and rice without covering the pressure cooker lid for few minutes just keeping a ladle and covering it half with a plate in a low flame for few minutes when the rice is 3/4th cooked add an extra bit of water (1/4) cup and then close the lid and cook for few more minutes around 6 to 7 minutes if it gives out whistle then that is fine other wise just switch off the stove and check and cook until it is well done. Other wise without any cooker you can just cook with a ladle immersed and a plate covered on top until it is well done. If you are directly cooking this way do not forget to use a thick bottomed vessel.
**** Do not over boil, kalkandu looses its sweetness and it caramelizes to dark deep red colour but it will be tasteless and will not have any sweetness either.  when it is over boiled so keep an eye on it once it reaches one string consistency immediately switch off the stove scrape down the vessel around and pour the liquid onto the rice and mix well.

VERDICT:
Absolutely divine, had a demand for me to make it again so made it again the next day, Everybody at home and friends just loved it, It was so delicious and with a beautiful aroma and colour, kids who doesn't like sweets at all demanded me to prepare again as I had made very little 

This also goes to fifty-two-weeks of 2013 project by Aparna and Sra for the second week as Garnet as theme.., enjoyed immensely...
Here is my Garnety click for the second week

The post Segappu Kalkandu ( Kempu Kallu Sakkre ) Pongal / Lentil and Rice Sweet Porridge made with Sugar Candy appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi everybody, it's been a long time since I blogged, I thought I could never blog again with lots of things going on, needless to say, everything seems to get alright now, with this I won't go straight to my recipe you have to wait, I have to say a few things which are very important to me.
Today is my Thanksgiving day..... I have to thank few people who have been with me, encouraged me and helped me through my blogging adventure.
Blogging has not only brought happiness to me as a passionate foodie but wonderful readers who even though I haven't posted for some time who still like my blog and some readers who still write to me asking queries which makes my day, and also my dear friends and family who have always encouraged me on this and insist I should not stop blogging.
Let me start with few of my blogger friends Swathi, Gayatri, Suzanne and Kalyani who stood with me when I was in trouble, and encouraged me to post when I could.  Thank you very much dears.
I would also like to thank Nisha, Swathi, Shabs Cp, Swasthi Blank and Meena Bhatia for helping me to get back to blogging, From Last 1 and 1/2 weeks I was trying to post my recipes and my blog was not allowing to upload any images I was so stressed out and I did know what was going on and just 2 days back I realised that I don't have any space in my Picasa Web album.  When I placed this problem in FB all these ladies helped me out and here I am blogging again.  Thanks to all of you.
I have been baking a lot these days, My bread seems to disappear quickly so I have to definitely bake bread twice at least in a week.   This bread was basically for my daughter who loves to eat her bread only with Jam, she is not like the other to eat bread with cheese, pickles and leaves.  I was planning to make cinnamon rolls, that was when I saw this month's MM#12 Kalyani announced Fruits and chocolate as the Magic Mingle Ingredients.  So, I changed the filling with fruits it turned out really tasty and smelled great.

PEAR, NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS IN SWIRL ROLLS

INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE ROLLS
150 gms Whole meal Strong bread flour
150 grms White Bread flour
25 grms Wheat Bran
25 grms Water Roux
1 tbsp Honey
1/2 tbsp Yeast
2/3 + 2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp salt

FILLING:
1 Large Pear
4 tbsp of soft Brown sugar
4 tbsp chopped dried fruits ( Papaya, Mango, pineapple)
3  tbsp chopped Nuts ( Almond, cashew, pista, walnut )
1 tbsp Honey
1/2 Cadbury flake
1/8th tsp Cinnamon powder and Nutmeg powder

METHOD
Sieve together flours and bran, In a large bowl take yeast with 2 tbsp water and Honey and leave it for few minutes you can see small bubbles forming up that means our yeast is active now to this add all the remaining Ingredients under the Rolls add water as required, My flour needed 2/3 cup of water.
Just remember If you have prepared the Roux just then the flour might need more water, But if you had made it earlier like a day before and if it was stored in the fridge, add water little by little as you might not require the same amount of water and make it into a soft dough.
Knead dough for at least 10 minutes oil the dough and leave it to raise or double in size for at least 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours in a warm place
Meanwhile, make your filling.
Peel and chop pear into small pieces.  In a thick bottomed bowl take 4 tbsp of sugar, Honey and chopped pear and cook on a low flame with a lid closed after some time the pear becomes nicely cooked to this add the other Ingredients this helps in most of the liquid to get evaporated.  (do not add any water honey, sugar and the water in the pear helps it to get cooked ). It will be of semi-solid consistency, leave it to cool down.
Once the dough is raised punch it down and bring them all together, sprinkle some flour on to the surface and flatten the dough into a rectangle spread the cooled down filling on to it and roll down it from the long end.
Cut it down into 7 pieces, In each one of the pieces close one end of the filling by bringing together the dough together and place them on to the baking tray, line the tray with a parchment paper.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4 / 180 degree
Leave the rolls for another 1/2 hour covered with a cling film the rolls rise again in a warm place. Once they raise.
Bake these rolls in a preheated oven at Gas Mark 4 / 180 degrees for around 25 minutes ( Check your oven temperatures ) until well done.
Take it out and leave it on a cooling rack.
Once it a bit cool enjoy these rolls...
Hope you like it...
stay tuned for more recipes to come soon......

This recipe goes to Magic Mingle #12 and also to Bake-a-thon.

Thanks to Champa of Versatile Vegetarian Kitchen who hosts Bake-a-thon every year, Last year I was planning to participate and before it began my computer busted and I just had to leave the group.  This year they had already started which I noticed today and wrote to her.  She and the other bloggers agreed to include me in their month-long baking marathon only this year it's going to be only for 3 days in a week and here I am with my first bake for this event.  The other bloggers who are with  Bake-a-thon are Preethi, Srivalli, Priya, Veena and sumana Deepak.

This recipe is also Yeast spotted.
Seniding this to Kriti's event, Brown sugar - know your sweetness, started by Jagruti

The post Pear, Nuts and dried Fruits in swirl rolls appeared first on My Veg Fare.

I know you must be wondering two posts in a day, I am not surprised, because last post was completely ready to post on the festival day, but missed posting it and it just carried on.. :), so decided to post it today morning, and this post is definitely will be posted today, as you all know today is SRC time :). The Secret Recipe Club is my Favourite time...

Every month I usually forget the dates and days for the posting of the events I participate, but with SRC I usually never forget the date, but most of the time I take a last minute decision to make the recipe, as I keep going through the blog whole month wondering what shall I make, but keep going through the blog, I think I usually get stuck to the recipe on the first round I look at a recipe and end up making it.
This month suzanne, My host has assigned me to Belcher town bites, of German mama, This is a blog from A to Z means Arepas to zwetschgen, totally wondering now right ?, I think she has baked and cooked from A to Z from every place on the Globe. If you want to find a recipe from some country just look into her blog you will find it, I couldn't really go through the whole blog, too many recipes to choose from, I first thought making some salad she has some 35 different salads!!, then wanted to try Turkish bread, but when I was googling, I was wondering about the toppings and the way it is made so the next one I kept going to was these Canadian Oatmeal rolls, the Maple syrup and oat meal attracted me to that recipe. She has wonderful blog with some amazing names and different recipes from nook and corner of the world.
Let's get back to the recipe then, I was browsing through google and was wondering what was so different about the oatmeal rolls, I have always baked oatmeal in my recipes but this was a little different.  I found out that they have used Eggs in one website, I found this recipe made with molasses I adapted some things from this recipe but left out molasses. I wanted to stick to the basic recipe from her blog but made with minor changes from her blog and made these rolls, they were delicious and turned out very well.
I really don't know how exactly the rolls are made, I wouldn't say that this is the authentic recipe, if any of you know the exact recipe do pass it on to me..
Here is how I made them...

NOVA SCOTIA CANADIAN OATMEAL ROLLS
Recipe adapted from Belcher town bites with minimal changes
Cuisine: Canada
Preparation: 20 minutes
Total time Pre-Baking: 5 hours
Baking time : 20 -25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 Cup / 60 ml Milk
1 Cup / 100 gms Old fashioned Oats
1 Cup boiling water
1/4 cup / 60ml Maple syrup
2 tbsp oil
1 and 1/2 tsp salt
1 and 3/4th tsp Active dried yeast*
325 gms whole wheat Bread flour
1/4 Cup/  Wheat Germ (optional)**
50 gms/ 1/4 cup Cranberries
1/4 cup Orange Juice

* I had my last bit of yeast 1 and 3/4th tsp so I just used what I had so I had to change the recipe accordingly.
** I saw this added in one of the recipe links I found so just adapted it to make it healthier, so it is totally optional, you can substitute whole wheat flour or All purpose flour of 350 grms.

METHOD:
In a little bowl take cranberries, soak them in orange juice.
In a bowl take old fashioned oats, salt and  Maple syrup.
Pour boiling water over this oats  mix well and leave it for some time until it cools down. once you know it is nearly cooling down.
In a large bowl take yeast and 2tbsp of warm water leave it for 5 minutes.
Once you bubbles forming up and this makes you sure your yeast is active, add Oil and the Oatmeal mixture to it with wheat germ and whole wheat bread flour.
Combine them all well together use water if needed I did not use any extra water, knead the dough for 10 minutes, the dough might be a bit sticky, keep kneading just dipping your hand in the flour now and then the dough becomes soft and nice.
Drain the cranberries from the juice spread the dough, add the cranberries to it, mix well into it.
Oil the bowl and the dough Keep it in a warm place for at least 1 and 1/2 hour or until the dough doubles in size.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3 / 170degree
Punch the dough once it is doubled, make 9 balls out of it, In a baking sheet sprinkle some flour and keep these on it, press them a bit.
Leave these rolls for an other 1/2 an hour or so or until you see that the rolls are rising again.
Sprinkle some oats on it and brush it with milk or either way.
Increase the Oven to Gas Mark 4, place the baking tray and bake for total 20 minutes.
After 10 minutes turn the tray for equal baking and reduce the temperature to Gas Mark 3 and bake for an other 10 minutes.
Remove the tray from the oven and place it on a cooling rack, after 5 minutes remove them from the tray and place them on the cooling rack, Just to ensure the base of the rolls don't get soggy because of the heat from the tray.
leave them to cool, slice them or top them with maple syrup and enjoy these delicious rolls.

Check out all SRC members from my group who enjoyed baking and cooking like me ... I am so looking forward like you all to see what they have been doing.... Enjoy...

Sending this to
Let's Party - Go bake it, of Surabhi Nayak
Love Lock series  - Bread of Divya's culinary journey started by Vidya
Bon Viviant - Baked Goodies by summes culinary bites
{*Linking to Bake Fest hosted by FOODOMANIA*} started by Vardhini
and it is Yeast Spotted !!!

The post Nova Scotia Canadian Oatmeal Rolls appeared first on My Veg Fare.

Hi, everybody it is SRC time again, I am sorry for not linking my blog right on time, My laptop, froze and as I had not scheduled my post to go on time just because , I was planning to publish as I was at home. well, I am really sorry about this but, definitely here is my post.  I would never miss SRC as I love this secret club, It makes me delighted and going through the blogs I get assigned to every month, I get the whole month browsing every recipe and wonder which one should I choose.
Suzanne my hostess assigned me to Judie's blog - Gluten Free with Judie, An to  A-Z   gluten free blog, there is not a second thought to it. You want to know anything and everything about Gluten Free and lot more things she has it right their in her blog, I have bookmarked so many pages to study about lot of things, I had not decided what to try out from her blog, and decided at the last minute that's yesterday!!.  I had invited my friends, she is pregnant and would be leaving to India soon and made this little dessert - Panna Cotta to her with a whole some menu of Indian food and made International Italian dessert !!Only with  less sugar, as she doesn't like anything sweet. I have increased the amount of sugar when writing it here with a 1/4 cup more so do need to check out before you like to increase the sweetness in it.
Coming to the recipe, I made it vegan, and made a Orange syrup to go with it, which was perfectly delicious, Chocolate and Orange is a fantastic combo.
Thanks Judie for this wonderful recipe.., everybody at home enjoyed it..., Here is how the recipe goes...

VEGAN CHOCOLATE AND COCONUT PANNA COTTA WITH ORANGE SAUCE

Recipe Source: Judie's Blog with Changes

INGREDIENTS:

Makes 6 Ramekins

2 cups of Fresh thick Coconut milk ( you can even used coconut cream )
1 cup Soya milk
3 tsp Agar - Agar Powder
2 tbsp Warm water
3 tbsp Coco powder
1 tsp pure Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
3/4 cup Fair trade Palm sugar / brown sugar

Recipe Source: Original

ORANGE SYRUP
1/2 Cup Orange juice
1/4 Cup Sugar
A Pinch of Orange colour

METHOD:
Soak Agar - Agar powder in the warm water from few minutes, Meanwhile In a bowl take coconut milk and soya milk and heat them whisking continuously with sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon powder and dissolved coco powder.
Add soaked Agar - agar powder into the bowl and keep stirring for few more minutes and boil in a medium flame and immediately put them in individual Ramekins.
Once it comes to the room temperature place them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours to set.

To Make Orange Syrup: 
Meanwhile make your Orange Syrup, In  a bowl add all the Ingredients under Orange syrup and simmer it in a very low flame for 15 to 20 minutes in becomes slightly thick and your syrup is ready it has a tangy Orangey taste to it.  Once done keep it covered until needed.

After 2 to 3 hours place the Ramekins in a hot water for few seconds and with a sharp knife or fork turn it around the inside of the ramekins just to release them from the ramekins then tilt it over on to a plate, Place few Oranges I placed clementine slices and poured the orange syrup over them and served them..

My kids felt it was good but not too good as it was not very sweet as they have a horrible sweet tooth, and when ever I use brown sugar it doesn't give you much sweet so you need to increase the quantity of it, that's the  way they  like it!!, so you can increase the sugar level if you have a very sweet tooth.
It turned out really well and came out clean without any trouble at all..
Do please check out her blog for the original recipe, she uses gelatine, as being a vegetarian I did not want to use gelatine, Agar- Agar acts just like gelatine and can be used instead of it in any recipe which calls for gelatine, you can find these in any Asian or may be health wise shops.
Agar - Agar is made from a sea weed and is a best substitute for gelatine and suitable for vegan and vegetarian recipes..

Check out all my other SRC members below who have created so many recipes..some of them you might want to book Mark!!
Sending this to Ayesha's cook eat delicious desserts - milk started by Raven
and to Vardhini's Kitchen Chronicles - only Vegan event started by Kalyani

Update:  I won a cookbook from Raven for this Dessert Yay!!, 

The post Vegan Chocolate & Coconut Panna Cotta with Orange Sauce appeared first on My Veg Fare.

You must be wondering why I have given the name as wheat bran muffins because these muffins have more of wheat bran taste.., Nevertheless to say that they are the healthiest muffins, Consuming 25 gms of Wheat bran everyday per person will get all the sufficient RDA required. They were a bit moist but to tell you we enjoyed it...
I basically made this recipe from kat from study food, she is basically a student and loves cooking and baking., she loves and tries all kinds of cuisines.., I was so surprised to see all her creations..., this recipe she has adapted from here but has tweaked it to her liking, she uses Peach juice, which I did not have and uses 1 egg which I have substituted.., I found this recipe to be quite a healthy one, which I could just grab for a good breakfast for my daughter with a glass of milk and apple, who doesn't eat anything otherwise in the morning!., My twins took it school for their lunch box as an extra treat.. 

Here goes the recipe..., hope you like it and try it...

EGGLESS BLUEBERRY & WHEAT BRAN MUFFINS

Recipe source: study food

Makes 12

INGREDIENTS:

1 and 1/4 Cup Whole meal Self Raising flour

1 and 1/4 Cup Wheat Bran 

1 Cup Fresh Blueberries

1/4 tsp  pinch of salt

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1/4 Cup Honey

2 Banana

1/2 Cup Milk

1 tsp Baking Soda

4 tbsp Oil

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

1 tbsp Flax seed powder + 3 tbsp water

METHOD:

Soak 1 tbsp of Flax seed powder with 3 tbsp of very warm water

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/ Gas Mark 4

Oil Muffin tins are use a paper liners as I have done..

Sift the flours, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar., As the Bran is difficult to sift you will be left with bran when sifting just mix it with all the other dry ingredients throughly

Next peel the bananas (I used medium sized ones) chop them then blend them in a food processor/ Mixie ( I used my Indian mixie) with the flax seed powder, then add milk, Oil and honey and blend them again add vanilla essence well combined - so your wet ingredients are ready.

In a large bowl take all the dry ingredients make a well in the middle pour the wet ingredients into it and fold the flour into it until everything is completely incorporated into it then add the blue berries and fold in.

If you find it the batter very thick keep adding  a tbsp of water to it.n (I added around 2 tbsp warm water).

Fill your Muffin tins with the batter and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes depending upon your oven temperature.

A tooth pick inserted after 20 minutes will tell you if it done or you need to leave it for few more minutes.

Once well done take them out of the oven and cool them on a rack.

Enjoy these healthy Muffins for a wonderful breakfast, I made these muffins for Taste and Create and also for Moms Crazy Cooking in which this month she featured Blue Berry Muffins

The post Blueberry & Wheat Bran Eggless Muffins appeared first on My Veg Fare.

EGGLESS MOCHA MUFFINS WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND PECANS

adapted from Bon Appe'tit with minimal changes

INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp Hot water
1/2 tbsp Instant espresso powder
1/4 Cup butter milk
1/4 Cup vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 Cup All Purpose flour
1/4 + 2 tbsp Barley flour
1/4 Cup packed Golden Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
1 and 1/2 tbsp Unsweetned cocoa powder
1 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
100 gms Milk Chocolate Chips
100 gms coarsely chopped pecans toasted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees/Gas Mark 6.
Line 6 Muffin cups with Paper Liners
Sieve both the flours with Cocoa powder, Baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
Stir 2 tbsp of hot water and expresso powder in a medium bowl until the powder dissolves.
In a large bowl add buttermilk, oil, Sugar, Agave Nectar and vanilla, whisk  well until well blended.
In parts incorporate the flour into the Liquid mixture until well combined, Mix in chocolate chips and pecans.
Divide the batter equally among the prepared muffin cases.

I baked my muffins 15 minutes in Gas Mark 6 then reduced it to Gas Mark 5, they got baked within 20 minutes.Bake Until the tester or tooth pick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean.
Transfer muffins to rack and cool.

My Verdict: Here I have Halved the recipe.  So, if you want to make 12 Muffins just double the recipe and I would say if you are baking it Eggless then I would suggest you to add 1 tbsp of Flaxseed powder with 3 tbsp of very warm water and allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then blend them with other Liquid ingredients.
Even if you are baking 6 Muffins use 1/2 tbsp of Flaxseed powder, it gives a moist texture to the muffins and helps in replacing the fat content in the baking process, as the muffins were not too moist, they were soft though.

If you are planning to bake it in Vegan Version you can substitute buttermilk with soya milk and Cocoa powder with Carob powder and vegan Chocolate chips
These muffins are not too sweet if you have a sweet tooth, substitute Agave Nectar with Sugar, they are perfect for Breakfast with Tea or as an evening snack with Tea or coffee.
If you want to make it with Eggs then for the above recipe just add 1 Large Egg, you will get your Mocha Muffins perfectly, If doubled add 2 Large eggs!!

See you next week with an other muffin recipe....., check out her blog for the MM team members and their Lovely Muffins. Thanks Anu for these beautiful muffins which my family enjoyed.

I am send this to vardhini's Bake fest and co-hosted by Anusha's Tomato blues

The post Eggless Mocha Muffins with Chocolate Chips and Pecans appeared first on My Veg Fare.