– 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.

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.

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.

Making a dessert is time-consuming don't you think? but after it's made and  if you have a sweet tooth you are bowled out to both the virtual and real treat.  I am not a dessert person, I love pineapple pastry though, I go weak in my legs I have a special love for them and all milk based Indian sweets.  I don't like sweets which are too sweet and surprisingly this pannacotta is not too sweet, well of course you can make it sweet if you add more sugar but, panna cotta aren't too sweet but wickedly delicious.  Panna cotta is an Italian delicacy, panna cotta is an  Italian dessert made with thickened cream and moulded with gelatin, as I don't use gelatine I have subbed it with Agar Agar.  These days panna cotta can be made skinny, dairy free and whatever way you want to enjoy it!

It's that time of the year your palette changes from warm food and soups to something refreshing and cool, Fresh salads either with veggies or fruits or a combo of both and something thandi (cool) to drink.  Spring is slowly settling to Summer,  brings your senses to a galore of tastes tingling your taste buds craving for something fresh and juicy.

Strawberries and summer come hand in hand, you can see loads of strawberries in the market a punnet would cost you a pound, not all strawberries are sweet, talking to local people here I found out strawberries from Hertfordshire are very sweet, and when I find them in the market I never miss to buy them my daughter loves them, both us wander a lot she is a foodie friend to me.  Last time when we went to Gym we found these British strawberries I forgot from where it came, they weren't too sweet, we were a bit disappointed so we decided on munching some cherry tomatoes instead walking back home, Ahh.., I didn't  tell you did I? there is a little farmer's market we often go to whenever we go to Gym pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, Cherries are my favourite, I just can't stop eating with one  by the time we come back home I would finished the whole lot.

I first thought I will make some lemonade then decided otherwise as I had just made it a few days back.  I had put my grey cells to work, I remembered that I had to do a dessert this month for #cookingwithfriends theme and had already planned on making Mango pannacotta  which I changed to strawberry instead and made Mango milkshake (Seekarne).   As the strawberries weren't that sweet I thought of making  this with a combination and decided upon vanilla and some chia seeds  to go with it.

We never had strawberries as kids.  I can only think of Melons and Mangoes when summer set in, in our part of the world, we loved eating loads of watermelons and mangoes and sometimes eat Ice cream when there used to be a man who used to bring in his cart all these Lollipops and sometime Kulfi's,  mother never made them at home looking after three kids and her full-time job was enough for her to manage.  My parents never liked us buying Ice creams from him, and was a rare treat. I still remember my first Ice cream I made was when I was in year 11, for a first timer it was a great success and as eggs were a no-no at home I made it eggless as well.

Time changes so many things in life, never thought  I would be here eating strawberries instead of Mangoes!, how we change our food habits and adapt to what we get.  Mango milk shake to a pannacotta, that's what has changed when you are blogger best of all, with all the love in the world you prepare it.

STRAWBERRY-VANILLA CHIA SEED PANNA COTTA (GELATINE FREE / VEGETARIAN)

Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Recipe source: Jayasri
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes (20 min each)
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS: 
For Strawberry pannacotta:
500 grms Strawberries
(2 Cups pureed strawberries)
1/4 cup very warm water
2 tbsp Agar Agar powder*
1/2 cup Brown sugar

For Vanilla Chia seed Pannacotta
2 Cups milk
1/2 cup double cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract / slit and scrape vanilla pod
1 tbsp Chia seed
2 tbsp Agar Agar powder
1/4  cup very warm water
1/3 cup Suagr

METHOD:
Wash and cut Strawberries into a container puree them in a blender  with little water into a smooth puree, pour the pureed strawberries into a container and allow it to cook add 1/2 cup sugar and cook until all the sugar dissolved.

In a container add 2 cups of milk and sugar and boil it in a low flame for 10 minutes to this add chia seeds and cook for 5 minutes,  Meanwhile in a different bowl, boil water add tbsp of Agar powder until it completely dissolves, pour this mixture immediately into the milk mixture, add double cream, Vanilla extract or slit and scrape a vanilla pod  and blend them all together.  Leave it cool for 1/2 an hour, mix now and then, check its not thickening, as you don't want it solidifying, they just need to get cooled down now pour this into the serveware in which you want to serve, I slanted my glasses and put them in the fridge to set. May take 3 to 4 hours.

Once the vanilla panna cotta sets, you can start the strawberry panna cotta, you get two cups of pureed strawberries from 500 grms of strawberries into a container with sugar and cook them together until sugar is completely dissolved switch off the stove and keep aside, In an other bowl warm water and add Agar powder mix well with no lumps add this immediately into the pureed strawberry mixture blend well and leave it to cool, keep checking now and then that it doesn't set, you need it just to cool down, when its cooling down and ready to poured into the glasses to set bring your vanilla panna cotta glasses out of  the fridge.  Pour strawberry panna cotta into the gap until they both balance or the way you like to design it put them back into the fridge to set. May take 2 to 3 hrs
Once both of them are set you can serve them when needed.

NOTES:
Agar - Agar is a sea weed algae, it was discovered in Japan and it is called Kanten, It is called china grass in India, this is  vegetarian/vegan substitute for gelatin.  It even sets in room temperature and is better than gelatine even when temperature rises.  It does not have any taste, odour and smell.  You can find them in health food stores as powder, flakes, threads etc.  1 tbsp of agar powder dissolve it in a 4 tbsp hot water, 10 minutes it will start setting. For one cup of liquid to set use around 10 grms of Agar powder, I used 1 tbsp(8grms) as I wanted it to set it bit softer (wobbly), if  you want it set properly use 10 grms.
Increase or decrease sugar as per your taste.  My strawberries were a bit tart so had to use more sugar to balance it.

Do you like panna cotta, which is your favourite and tell me why it is your favourite?

Disclaimer:
Cooking With Friends: This blog post is part of the monthly “Cooking With Friends” themed blog post challenge. This challenge was started by a bunch of virtual friends united by their love of food, with the aim of tackling a different food-related theme each month. If you want to try this month’s theme, please feel free to do so and link your recipe in the comments section. We’d love to check it out. Meanwhile, check out what the others in the group have come up with this month.
Anjana from At the Corner of Happy and Harried, Garima from CafeGarima,  Jyothi from Curry Tail, Madhuri from MADaboutkitchen, Subhasmita from The Flavors of Kitchen, Sujatha from Spice n Treats, Dolphia from Story of cooks

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Strawberry-Vanilla Chia seed Panna Cotta (Gelatine free/Vegetarian)

An Italian delicacy made with thickened cream and chia seeds with Agar-Agar and delicious strawberries.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

• For Strawberry pannacotta:
• 500 grms Strawberries
• 2 Cups pureed strawberries
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• 2 tbsp Agar Agar powder*
• 1/2 cup Brown sugar
• For Vanilla Chia seed Pannacotta
• 2 Cups milk
• 1/2 cup double cream
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract / slit and scrape vanilla pod
• 1 tbsp Chia seed
• 2 tbsp Agar Agar powder
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• 1/3 cup Suagr

Instructions

• Wash and cut Strawberries into a container puree them in a blender with little water into a smooth puree, pour the pureed strawberries into a container and allow it to cook add 1/2 cup sugar and cook until all the sugar dissolved.
• In a container add 2 cups of milk and sugar and boil it in a low flame for 10 minutes to this add chia seeds and cook for 5 minutes, Meanwhile in a different bowl, boil water add tbsp of Agar powder until it completely dissolves, pour this mixture immediately into the milk mixture, add double cream, Vanilla extract or slit and scrape a vanilla pod and blend them all together. Leave it cool for 1/2 an hour, mix now and then, check its not thickening, as you don't want it solidifying, they just need to get cooled down now pour this into the serveware in which you want to serve, I slanted my glasses and put them in the fridge to set. May take 3 to 4 hours.
• Once the vanilla panna cotta sets, you can start the strawberry panna cotta, you get two cups of pureed strawberries from 500 grms of strawberries into a container with sugar and cook them together until sugar is completely dissolved switch off the stove and keep aside, In an other bowl warm water and add Agar powder mix well with no lumps add this immediately into the pureed strawberry mixture blend well and leave it to cool, keep checking now and then that it doesn't set, you need it just to cool down, when its cooling down and ready to poured into the glasses to set bring your vanilla panna cotta glasses out of the fridge. Pour strawberry panna cotta into the gap until they both balance or the way you like to design it put them back into the fridge to set. May take 2 to 3 hrs
• Once both of them are set you can serve them when needed.

Notes

Agar - Agar is a sea weed algae, it was discovered in Japan and it is called Kanten, It is called china grass in India, this is vegetarian/vegan substitute for gelatin. It even sets in room temperature and is better than gelatine even when temperature rises. It does not have any taste, odour and smell. You can find them in health food stores as powder, flakes, threads etc. 1 tbsp of agar powder dissolve it in a 4 tbsp hot water, 10 minutes it will start setting. For one cup of liquid to set use around 10 grms of Agar powder, I used 1 tbsp(8grms) as I wanted it to set it bit softer (wobbly), if you want it set properly use 10 grms.
Increase or decrease sugar as per your taste. My strawberries were a bit tart so had to use more sugar to balance it.

The post Strawberry-Vanilla Chia seed Panna Cotta (Gelatin free/ Vegetarian) 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.

I love baking cookies; they are no hard work, fuss free, few ingredients and Lo! Bite sized, fulfilling on the go & all time favourite sweet something’s, what do you say? Do you like cookies? What’s your favourite?

This post has been in my draft for some time, I have been away from my blog  for a long time. Days just go by without me knowing it, well I could blame it on my kids now.  They are in University now, excited that they came back,  I have been quite busy past month, been cooking and baking non-stop.

So, they have been here for a short break for  Christmas vacation and I am so excited about it, from past few months I haven’t baked much at all, After they joined University this year, baking has taken a back seat.  Every week, sometimes twice a week I used to bake breads, they loved home-made breads for their Lunch box and also I used to bake cakes, muffins etc, just for munching / snacking.    I have been thinking about this from past year wondering what I would do when they go away, probably stop baking and stop blogging too.

Well, I don’t think I can stop blogging now as my kids are cooking on their own and always ask me and look at my blog for recipes, I have planned to blog basic & simple recipes just for my kids for their reference.

Coming back to the recipe, I baked these when my kids were here, they were very tasty, and if you want you can increase more sugar if you have a sweet tooth.  They were quite tasty I ate quite a lot as my two favourite Ingredients are in that, Coconut & Pistachio two of my favourite ingredients.

Recipe Source: Jayasri
Prep time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

100 grms Pistachio Nuts
100 grms Fresh Coconut
100 grms Caster Sugar
100 grms Icing Sugar
2 tbsp Rice Flour
2 tbsp Corn Flour
1/8 th tsp Baking soda
2 tbsp Oil
Pinch of salt
Few Pistachios for decorating

METHOD:

First of all powder pistachios coarsely, take Fresh coconut and give one  whiz in your food processor or mixie don't do it too much it will start giving milk which we don't want, as we want the taste of coconut , Now mix this with Icing sugar, salt and Baking soda and keep aside. In a bowl beat Rice flour, Corn Flour and oil beat them together, to this add the dry ingredients mix well.

Make small balls, I made around 27 balls out of the dough,  flatten them out and bake them for 20 minutes in a preheated oven Gas mark 3 on a baking sheet (I have a gas oven and gets hot,  even in low temperature so I always bake in a low temperature).

Once done take it out and cool on a wiring rack,
You just can’t stop with one  enjoy it with your Cuppa ya Chai

C you soon
Bye

The post Eggless, Gluten, Dairy & Soya Free Coconut Pistachio Macaroons appeared first on My Veg Fare.

It's nearly Christmas, kids are thrilled, adults are happy ah! sure :), yeah! are you ? most say yaaaaahh.., the long yaaaah and give a big smile, whatever it is I love Christmas, I love the festive season, makes me very happy when I see the little kids chatting away delightedly  in the gifts they are going to get and lots of pampering  from their thick and thin family, rich or poor everybody try their best to please the kith and kin around them.

I don't celebrate Christmas as I am Hindu, But, I do celebrate it in my own way, Have I ever told you my little story about why I celebrate Christmas, I have told many of them here, when they keep asking me are you ready for Christmas ? and I would go with a stupid smile on my face and start saying with "well,  I don't have Christmas but I do celebrate in my own way as my kids love it" , of I go with  my story and after hearing they would be bemused!, The story yes.., when I was in India, my children were very little and every Christmas my MIL used to bring them a small Christmas tree, it was not exactly "The Christmas tree" it was a branch but she wanted the kids to believe it was and she used to pot it and  keep it in our Lounge.
Next with totally excited kids towing behind her take them in a rickshaw to shop,  she used to buy little trinkets, fairies, colourful balls and all the little things to decorate the tree, and definitely a Santa and she used get them chocolates and spoil them with all the sweets and savouries.  when I asked her about this she used to say how she used to think of Santa and presents when she was a kid and she would say let them enjoy.
Even today I keep wondering about the things she used to do on a whim to please them and her Grand children adored her and miss her very much,  every Christmas I remember her. when my kids put up the tree and decorate they think of their Grand mother just like me.  Those days I hadn't seen any of the families around us would celebrate Christmas this way. It was a bit out of the way.

May be coming over here and celebrating Christmas has become religious and part of our life now, like the same way we did back then, I used to buy them presents and buy presents for my friends and my kids do the same, particularly my youngest girl she has all packed and kept it ready a week back, I don't buy them presents any more as they are grown up now and choose to buy things whenever they like anything.  But, they do enjoy visiting family and enjoy eating all the treats I bake.  I enjoy baking cookies, Biscuits and cakes during this festivity season.

These cookies are the tastiest cookies I have ever baked, (so I say to most of them I think :)), I myself couldn't resist eating them they are utterly butterly delicious.  These are one of the quintessential  cookies for Christmas I suppose.
Linz is a biggest city in Austria, Linz is the reputed home of the famous Linzer torte, This tart is made up of a pastry rich with butter, almonds and cinnamon, and the tart is originally filled with Black currant preserves and topped with Lattice crust. It is one of the oldest know tarts, this was given a makeover by making the pastry to little cookie shapes and jammed with Jams/preserves/conserve/jellies you can make use of any of these to make these cookies and dusting with Icing sugar.
I did not know which recipe to follow exactly so I took it from here and here and made it into Eggless and it turned out superb.

EGGLESS LINZER COOKIES
Makes around 20 cookies

INGREDIENTS:
2 and 1/2 cup ( measured 275 grms) All Purpose Flour
1 Cup  ( measured 225 grms) Butter
1 Cup (measured 150 grms) Almond meal
1/2 cup Granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Cinnamon powder
1 tsp Pure Vanilla extract
1 tsp Baking powder
1 and 1/2 tbsp water
1 tbsp Arrowroot powder
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
Raspberry/Black currant/Apricot any choice of your filling

METHOD:
In a large bowl take Flour, Almond meal, cinnamon powder and salt, mix them all well together.
In an other bowl beat together softened butter, vanilla essence with sugar until well incorporated to this add the above said dry ingredients until they resemble bread crumbs.

In a little bowl take Baking powder, 1 and 1/2 tbsp of water, lemon juice and Arrowroot powder mix them all together you will see them bubbling up now add this to the buttery flour, combine them to a dough ball, it might be a bit sticky just flour your hands lightly and make into a ball.

Now half the dough ball into two and cover them separately with cling film and put it into the fridge and let it harden up for at least an one to two hours. ( you can even leave it in the refrigerator overnight and bake it next day).
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/ Gas Mark 5
Line baking sheets with parchment paper and keep it ready.
Take the dough out one part of it, roll into a circle or Rectangle in between two cling films do it quickly before it becomes too soft because of your hand heat or you can lightly flour the surface and roll out to an 1/4 inch thickness.

Now using your cookie one big and one small round, square, hearts or whatever shape you like cut out the circles, equally divide them into two parts and cut out 1/2 of them in the center with smaller cutters and place with 1" apart put them back in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes, this helps in the dough hardening up and when baking them in a preheated oven cooks them quickly and does not leak or spread and bake them in the preheated over for around 8 to 9 minutes. Half way through turn the cookies and bake them.
Once they are baked remove them on to a cooling rack, adapt the same procedure to the rest of the dough, re roll the left over dough and make similar cookies
I used some of the left over dough and made little cookies.

ASSEMBLING COOKIES
Dust Icing Sugar on the eyed cookies (that is the cookies which are cut in the center) and lay them out.
Once the first batch comes out fill in the cookies with Jam/jelly conserve or anything of your choice and spread it on to the base of the cookie then using the cut out cookie top it out on to the base and sandwich them together lightly.
If you store it in an airtight container the cookies will become soft and if you store it in an airtight container and leave it in the fridge, they are good to stay for several days.

NOTE:
Remember to preheat the oven  10 minutes before you would plan to take the dough out and get them ready to bake. Preheating ensures that the cookies are cooked evenly, quickly and will not melt away.
You can make your own Almond meal spread the Almonds on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes remove, cool it and dehusk the almonds next blend them to a powder form using /14 cup of sugar, adding sugar in the process helps in the almonds becoming a paste.
Do not forget to refrigerate every time you take them out to roll or cut them into cookies put them back, and don't bake until it is firmed up.
I have used Arrowroot powder if you can't find you can use Corn flour/corn starch instead or Potato flour or Chickpea flour / Soya flour / Quinoa flour hope this helps.
My cookie cutter was a bit out of shape I was so concentrating on cutting them out I wasn't looking how they turned out, my daughter noticed it they were not exactly circle but a bit oval in shape ah!, noted point
You can also use Hazelnuts instead of Almonds to make these cookies. That is my next in the agenda baking these cookies with Hazelnuts

These cookies are so delicious, when my photos weren't too good I was so disappointed, I love natural light I struggle get good photos were it gets dark, I get upset as it goes dark so quickly in winter and as I was moaning about it, my eldest was telling it's ok you can always bake them again we don't mind eating them.., there goes the verdict on my cookies.  If you try these out do tell me... Enjoy c you soon again

The post Linzer Cookies - Eggless appeared first on My Veg Fare.

EGGLESS VEGAN ORANGE CHOCOLATE NUT BROWNIES 

 

Chocolate and Oranges in a brownie is the most addictive dessert to Indulge, These are Vegan and Eggless as well! I love this combination and I keep using it always in my bakes!

Vegan why?

Because I love trying out baking Eggless and vegan, it’s like an adventure to me! But, to tell you the truth, being born in a vegetarian house hold we never had eggs. That’s the reason I try to bake eggless, when venturing into eggless baking I wanted to try if I could make it vegan!

I was not planning on baking these, when my thinking was loud  that I am thinking of baking something, immediately kids called out from upstairs Brownies please...., Kids..? Uhh.,  don't get confused they are teenage children, anytime every time they love brownies especially my twins.
My eldest doesn't care for chocolates (Just like me!), can you believe? I have completely stopped eating chocolates from past 2 months.  I never used to eat chocolates before, coming here I had kind of got addicted to it, and I was eating chocolates everyday like a tablet! Now I have come back to my normal phase, (senses I mean!)  my only favourite chocolate was snickers, yeah you know why ! Because I love nuts, I love to eat anything with nuts from chocolates, cakes  to Ice creams but everything in limits though.

 

The days are getting shorter, and its becoming colder, weather keeps changing all the time, sometimes I think cold is much better than rain,  the worst part is the daylight, it doesn't seem to wait for me at all.  Baking becomes an obsession especially in winter.

Here comes my recipe, a quick brownie which is eggless and delicious.

EGGLESS ORANGE CHOCOLATE NUT BROWNIES
Recipe : Jayasri

Prep time : 20 minutes

Bake time: 30 minutes

In an other bowl take all the wet Ingredients and mix them well enough to this add the dry ingredients blend them all well together do not over mix.

Scrape this on to the prepared pan smooth it  and spread some nuts on top of it and bake it in the middle rack of the oven, until the skewer comes out clean for around 20 to 25 minutes.

The post Eggless Vegan Orange Chocolate Nut Brownies appeared first on My Veg Fare.

GREEN TEA MOUSSE

140 gms  Whipping cream
70 gms white chocolate
1 tbsp Green Tea Leaves
1 tbsp Dolce de Leche
1 tsp Agar powder
2 tbsp of warm water

CREAM-LESS STRAWBERRY MOUSSE
140 grms Strawberry Puree
140 grms Sugar
1 tsp Agar
3 tbsp Warm water

Whipping cream as required
Pistachio Nuts as required

METHOD
TO MAKE GREEN TEA MOUSSE
In a thick bowl heat cream and tea Leaves until boiling set aside for 30 minutes, strain the tea leaves from cream then whip to soft peak melt chocolate and mix into tea infused cream and set aside.

TO MAKE CREAM-LESS STRAWBERRY MOUSSE
Soak Agar powder in  warm water beat keep it aside for few minutes then beat again , Puree strawberry and sugar together heat them in a bowl, add this to the puree and boil for few minutes keep it aside.

Beat whipping cream until soft peaks are formed. chop pistachios and keep aside.

ASSEMBLE

In a glass bowl or any thing you wish to arrange, layer whipping cream, add chopped pistachios, then layer them with Strawberry mousse then layer it with Green tea Mousse then layer it with Whipping cream and pistachios again then top it with Green tea mousse and top it with pistachios again, leave it in the refrigerate an hour or two and serve it cold.
Recipe source from these two blogs with minimal changes from here and matchachocolate.com
It was very sweet said my kids, hope you like it...

The post Eggless Green Tea mousse with Pistachio and Strawberry Verrines appeared first on My Veg Fare.

FOR THE PASTRY CASE:
1 cup Plain flour
65 gms butter
1/8th tsp salt
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 + 1 tbsp water

FOR THE FILLING :
1/2 cup Plain Flour
3 tbsp of melted butter
1/2 + 3 tbsp sugar
1/8th tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1 tbsp Yogurt
2 tbsp Soya Custard**
1 tbsp Hot water
1/4 tsp Vanilla Essence
A pinch of Yellow food colouring (optional )

FRUITS FOR DECORATING
125gms Blue Berries
1/2 cup Rasberries
2 Fresh Apricots
1/4 cup of Melon
1/4 cup of Persimmon
6 Large Strawberries
1 Kiwi
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp Honey
2 tbsp water

METHOD:
TO MAKE THE PASTRY
First of all Mix everything under Pastry except water they will be like crumbles now start adding water until it is well combined to make it into a dough not too soft or not too stiff. cover it with a cling film and allow it to chill in the fridge.

TO MAKE THE FRUIT DECORATION
Meanwhile In a large sauce pan take 2 tbsp of Honey and water to this add 1/4 cup of sugar and start warming it up keep stirring until all the sugar dissolves now add the Blue berries and cook carefully until they are soft but doesn't loose their shape when 1/2 way through add chopped Apricots ( I added Apricots as they were tart, if they are quite sweet you can just use it as it is).
After few minutes switch off the stove and drain them out through a strainer and keep aside.  To this sauce add Raspberries, shake them a bit so all of them get coated, now leave them in the pan.

TO MAKE THE FILLING
Meanwhile take little Tart tins apply butter all over  and keep aside until need. Now Take out the dough from the fridge make little balls and roll out  little disc shapes, Take these little rounds and carefully place them on the tart tins and press all over the sides, with the help of a fork prick the bottom of the tarts, don't make holes just give a prick all over.
Top all the 6 Tarts with Baking parchment and add Baked bean balls on top of it and bake these Tarts for 15 minutes on Gas Mark 3 / 170 degrees
once done take out these Tarts on to a wiring rack to cool down, after 5 minutes, remove the baked beans and the baking parchment and allow it to cool down a bit.
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3
Meanwhile when it is cooling down In a bowl take Plain flour, to this add Bicarbonate of soda and Baking powder, a pinch of salt mix well and keep aside. In another bowl take melted butter, sugar, soya custar, yogurt and mix well together, add a tbsp of Hot water and mix well.
Scoop this above cake mixture in a spoon and spread them evenly on all the tarts, Put them back in the oven and allow them to cook for an other 20 minutes,
Beautiful cake forms on top of the tarts, once done, switch off the Gas and take them out leave them on a cooling rack.after 5 minutes remove them all from the tart tins.

ASSEMBLING THE MIXED FRUIT TART
Slice of the top portion the cake nicely, and remove the top portion, take the cooked Blueberries, Raspberries, Apricots and arrange them on the tart shell as you desire.
Now either serve them just as it is otherwise with the help of tea strainer, sprinkle some Icing sugar on top of it and serve them.

These little Individual tarts were not only beautiful to look but also tasted very nice.
The sweet tart and cake inside the tart and the sweet fruit filling was divine..

Sending this to Blogger's Buzz, I am joining them and so looking forward to it...

The post Eggless Mixed Fruit Tart with a surprise filling.. appeared first on My Veg Fare.