Happy New Year !!

Hello Everyone,

Wishing all of you a fab 2016!! Happy New Year ..muahh :)

Apple Cake!

Hello Everyone,

Blogging after a month long vacation feels really great. Enjoying the weather of a new city & planning future vacations..Amazing!! What is happening with you all? Tried any new recipe, a dish, a new place, anything? Do tell!!

              Today's recipe is one of my favorite. I love fruit cakes & a yum warm Apple cake is one of my favorites. Sharing this recipe with all of you. Hope you will also love it!!

Apple Cake

Ingredients: 

• 2 apples
• 100gms Refined Flour /Maida
• 75gms Butter
• 3 Eggs
• 1tsp Baking Powder
• 75gms Sugar
• A pinch of Cinnamon
• A pinch of Salt
• Vanilla Essence

Method:

1. Peel both the Apples. Thinly slice one of the apples & make a rough puree of the other.
2. In a bowl, sieve the flour, salt, cinnamon powder & baking powder together. Keep it aside.
3. I another bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the butter & sugar & whisk till the sugar is melted completely. 
4. In the wet mixture, add 1-2tsp of Vanilla essence. Mix.
5. Now, add half of the pureed apples in the wet mixture.
6. Pour the wet mixture in the dry mixture & gradually fold together.
7. In a cake tin,pour half of the mixture. Then spread a layer of apples. Now add rest of the cake mixture. Spread the apples again on the top.
8. Bake it for 40minutes in the microwave. Or add some water in the pressure cooker & keep the tin. (p.s. The tin should be only 1/4th Immersed in water)
9. Once cooked, cool it for 5minutes & then Enjoy a heavenly slice of my favorite Apple cake :)

Vegetable Biryani!

Hi All,
Sharing a quick yet yummy recipe today. My favourite : Vegetable Biryani
Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice
• Diced Tomato -2
• Sliced Onion- 1
• Ginger Chopped – 1tsp
• Cauliflower – 1small cup
• Boiled Peas
• Boiled & Diced Carrot & Beans
• Cinnamon Stick – 1/2inch
• Black Cardamom – 1
• Bay Leaf – 1
• Black peppercorns – few
• Green Chillies -2
• Dry Spices : Salt, Red Chilli, Turmeric, Biryani Masala
• Oil for Frying

Method :

1. Soak a glass of Basmati rice In water for atleast half an hour. Keep aside.
2. In a deep pan, put black cardamom, peppercorns & bayleaf.
3. Once the crackling sound starts, add onions & fry for 2 minutes.
4. Then add ginger & fry till the onions are slightly brown.
5. Add tomatoes to it.
6. After a minute, add all the vegetables to the pan & chopped green chillies.
7. Add salt,red chilli powder, turmeric powder as per taste.
8. Now add the rice & water (twice of rice).
9. Now add a tbsp. of biryani masala.
10. Cook on high flame for a minute then on medium flame with the lid on till the water is absorbed & rice is cooked.
11. Serve hot with nice bowl of vegetable curd :)

Vegetable Samosa Recipe

Hello Everyone,

I know its been a long time since my last post! But I promise that I am gonna be regular now :-D
               Well, today's recipe is any Indian's favourite. But with a twist.!! I thought, why not to re-invent the traditional Indian snack. So here it is :)

Vegetable Samosa

Ingredients:
Wheat flour (Atta)
Refined flour (Maida)
Ajwain
Oil
Water
Salt
Filling:
Boiled & diced carrots - 2tbsp
Boiled peas                   - 2tbsp
Grated cauliflower        - One cup
Chopped ginger             - 1tbsp
Salt                                 - as per taste
Black pepper                   - as per taste
Diced green chillies        -2
Chopped Coriander leaves
Pinch of Dry mango powder (amchur)- Half a tsp

Method:
Take all the ingredients for the filling together & mix them. Keep it aside. Now for the samosa cover, take 3/4th cup refined flour & 1/4th cup wheat flour. To this, add a pinch of salt. Mix together & add 1tsp ajwain. Now add 2tbsp oil & enough water to knead it. The dough should be slightly tight. Knead it properly for 5minutes. Then let it rest for 15minutes.
Now, take a small ball of this dough & pat it flat. Fill enough filling inside the dough & wrap carefully forming a triangle. Or any other desired shape! Seal the edges with a drop of water.
Deep fry these yummy samosas till golden brown.
Enjoy them with yumm Mint chutney & a cup of masala tea :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hello Everyone,

Have a yummy Valentine's Day!!!

5 Teas that makes you slim!

Hello Everyone :)

I was going through archives of TOI and found this really cool article. Sharing this with all of you. It is really beneficial for people like me who are trying to loose weight the healthy way. Cheers !!:)

Here are 5 teas that can result in a slimmer you…

Star anise tea: promotes digestion Star anise, the fruit of a small evergreen tree (Illicium verum) native to China, can be used in the treatment of digestive troubles such an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea etc. One may drink a tea made from it by steeping a whole pod in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Strain this and sweeten it if required. Sip on this slowly when an upset stomach occurs.

 Peppermint tea: controls what you eat If you like peppermint tea then try and rotate that with a green tea drink as both speed up digestion and thus help you burn more calories. The peppermint leaves can be used to make a light, refreshing tea, which can be drunk either hot or chilled. To prepare the tea, take a tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves and add them to boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and add honey, if needed.

Green tea: builds metabolism Research says the chemical EGCG found in green tea that speeds up the body’s metabolism, is responsible for helping people lose the kilos – it can burn a whopping 70 calories a day! Green tea also raises the level of antioxidants. It’s believed the antioxidant catechins in green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat (can burn a whopping 70 calories a day!) Steeping time for the tea: two to three minutes at 85 Degrees Celsius.

Rose tea: prevents constipation One of the oldest flavouring teas available, rose tea – made by mixing fresh roses and the bud of the tea – has a major therapeutic effect on the human body. Apart from clearing toxins and beautifying the skin, rose tea contains vitamins A, B3, C, D and E and is known to act against infections. It also prevents constipation and helps one lose weight.

Oolong tea: guards against obesity Research reveals that oolong, a semi-fermented tea may have a stronger effect than even green tea. It promotes fat burning is said to help reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. About two cups per day is recommended. Steep oolong tea anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, for a more full-bodied cup.

Article Source : TOI

Happy Lohri!!

Happy Lohri Everyone :)

Nutty Marshmallows

Hello Everyone,

Today's recipe is a Children's favourite.

Nutty Marshmallows

img : google pics

Ingredients:

• Marshmallows
• Cooking chocolate( either dark or white)
• Mixed crushed nuts
• Toothpicks

Method:

1. Dry roast the mixed nuts. Crush them slightly.
2. Microwave the cooking chocolate until it melts.
3. Stick a toothpick on one side of the marshmallow and dip it in the melted chocolate.
4. Spread the nuts in a sheet. Cover the dipped marshmallows with the roasted nuts.
5. Allow it to cool for 30 minutes or more.
6. Happy eating 

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone :)

Happy Christmas Eve!!

Hello Everyone,

Wish you all a Happy Christmas Eve!!