Cinnamon Bun

These Cinnamon buns are a family favourite. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 

Ingredients
Bread Flour 390 gms (3 cups)

Instant yeast 1 pkt (7gms)
Sugar 50gms (1/4 cup)

Salt 1 tsp

Butter 57gms (1/4 cup)

Egg 1

Warm milk 3/4 cup

For the cinnamon layer

Butter 57gms (1/4 cup)

Brown Sugar 55gms (1/4 cup)

Cinnamon 1 tbsp

Method

1. Add flour, yeast, salt and sugar to a bowl and mix well. 

2. Add the wet ingredients - soft butter, warm milk and egg.

3. Knead till it comes together. Then knead till is soft

4. Place in a buttered bowl and rest for 2-3 hours till it doubles

5. Roll it to a 10*15 inch rectangle, spread the butter on top. 

6. Mix cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle on top of butter. 

7. Roll from the shorter side to get a 10 inch log

8. Cut into 10 * 1 inch pieces. Lie it on a rectangular greased pan

9. Cover and let rise for another 30-45 min

10. Preheat oven to 170C and bake for 15-17 min or will it starts to brown. 

Vegan Starbucks Style Banana Bread

Ingredients 

Flour 2 cups (260 gms)
Sugar 1 cup (200 gms)
Baking Soda 1 tsp
Salt 1/4 tsp
Banana Mashed 1 cup (about 2-3 bananas)
Pecans (or use Walnuts as in Starbucks) 3/4 cup divided
Vanilla Extract 1 tsp
Oil 1/2 cup

Method of Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350F). Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin (9*5*3 inches). Dust with FLour

2. Add all the ingredients to a mixer and beat well.

3. Pour into the pan.

4. Now the baking time is a little tricky. It depends on your banana, flour, oven etc. I have seen recipes saying from 45 min to 70 min. Mine baked for about 65 min. So please check occasionally and figure out what works best for you. 

Chocolate Chip Blondies

A super easy to make Blondie recipe. You wonder what a blondie is? Well its kind of similar to Brownie, but blonde :-). It is made without the cocoa powder. The dough has a very cookie like texture. And the finished bake is crumbly on the top and edges, and soft in the middle with an overload of chocolate chips. I had this recipe written down in my book for a while and have made it many times. Wonder what the source was. It was definitely from a TV show.

Creamy Roasted Root Vegetable Soup - Vegan, Gluten Free

Blogging seems to have come to a stand still for me. I keep trying to revive it and try and post a few recipes. But somehow life comes in the way. Last week or so, I have been experimenting with a lot of new things and I feel some of it needs to go in my blog.. I am not sure if I have any more followers. But I have decided to post a few recipes atleast so I can go back and reference them later!

It's march and there are parts of the world where people are already talking about summer and recipes to beat the heat. Here in England, we were almost ready to welcome spring. We even had a couple of glorious days where jackets were not necessary. My spring allergies are coming back. And then out  of the blue, another snow storm came along. And for a cold cozy day, there is always soup and bread in our kitchen.

I have made many variations of this soup before. But what I liked the best about this is the oven roasted vegetables. The boys agreed it just took the soup to a new level

Coconut Cardamom Chocolate Cookie

To me, winter is a time to bake. You know, like mad. Friday nights as I mentioned before are soup and bread in the winter. Its so dark and gloomy outside. A bit of baking is all I need to cheer me up. I have been away for so long, it feels like I don't belong here. Am sure once I connect with fellow bloggers and friends like old days, I will feel at home.

Olive and Fennel Focaccia - Vegan

One of the things I learned and became confident as a result of my blog was baking, especially breads. I am not claiming to be Bake off standard baker. I am far from it. But I know the basics now, which I did not know a few years ago. Bread is probably one of the things I love baking the most. The beauty of kneading the dough, the rising of it, shaping and finally the smell of warm bread fascinates me.

I have been away from my blog for way too long. I almost assumed this journey was over. But then life takes many twists and turns. And today I needed to be here. I needed to bake a bread. Today's bread was served with this Butternut Squash Soup. With Autumn on full swing, and winter slowly creeping in on us, I am sure this will be an amazing dinner.

Healthy Indian Kheer Smoothie - Vegan Chia and Apple Breakfast Smoothie

Indian Kheer or Payasam is a creamy pudding prepared usually with rice or vermicelli and thick milk. (Milk simmered for a hour or so). It is obviously loaded with calories and sugar. This is my effort to recreate the goodness of that without any sugar and full of healthy ingredients. A couple of things I wanted to add to this was raisins and almond flakes. That would totally complete the pudding. Call it Indian Kheer Smoothie or Chia and Apple Pudding or Chia Breakfast Smoothie. It fits all the bills.

Creamy Hummus - Vegan, Low Fat recipe

The Food Blogger in me misses talking to you all. I started this blog a few years ago as a way of documenting my food journey. I love the interaction with fellow bloggers and readers. Life sometimes takes a different turn and you lose focus in something. I lost a bit of focus in my blog when I started running. It takes up so much of my time, that I struggle to juggle!

Anyways, I am going to make an extra effort to click and post all the new things that are happening in my kitchen. Hope you will join me again as you did the first time I started this journey.

Today's recipe is super simple. We all love a good hummus. Be it in a wrap or sandwich, or as a dip with some breadsticks or crackers. And it is easy to pick up a tub from the supermarket. But trust me, it is easier and definitely healthier to make your own. The key to a creamy hummus is to use the chickpea water .

Vegan Olive Bread - Olive Loaf

Winter has arrived. In our house, this means Soups and Breads on Fridays. As much as I love making breads, I am always happy with a simple bread recipe. This one is very easy to make and will be ready in no time at all. It is packed with flavours  from Olives. Bake it and let me know how you like it.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake - King Arthur Flour Recipe

Pineapple Upside Down Cake is an American Classic. The light cake married with the sugar and butter topping is all you need to enjoy the sticky sweet dessert. Pineapple and cherries add an amazing flavour to the cake.

I may say this about a lot of cakes I make, but trust me this is by far one of the best I have baked. I baked it for the first time for my Husband's birthday a few months back. I have baked it a few times since and it has been a winnner always. If you like yours less sweet, do reduce the sugar in the topping a little. We loved it this way.

Almond Chocolate Chip Biscotti

A little taste of Italy made in your own kitchen. It does take a little time to bake this cause of the double baking, but the processing time is quite less. Enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. 

Ingredients (Makes about 18-20)

Large Eggs 2
Sugar 2/3 cup (135 grams)
Vanilla Extract 1 tsp

All Purpose Flour  1 3/4 cups (225 grams) I added about 40gms more of flour
Baking Powder 1 tsp
Salt 1/4 tsp
Almonds Toasted and chopped 3/4 cup (110 grams) 
Chocolate Chips 2/3 cup (110 grams)

Method of Preparation

1. Beat the eggs and sugar along with the vanilla in your mixer for about 5-10 min till it is pale and silky.

2. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 

3. Add that to the mixing bowl. Combine.

4. Add the almonds and choc chip and mix well. At this stage you should have a very sticky dough. Mine was quite wet, so I added the extra flour. 

5. Transfer to a well floured work surface. Shape into a log about 12" long. Transfer to a lined baking sheet.

6. Pat down and make it about 4" wide. 

7. Preheat oven to 180 C (350F). Bake for about 25 min till it starts to have a slight colour but the top is still soft to touch.

8. Take out of the oven and cool for 10 min. Reduce the oven temp to 165 C (325 F).

9. Slice the log into about 20 pieces. Place on a lined baking sheet with the cut side facing up.

10. Bake for 8-10 on each side.

11. Let it cool on a wire rack and then store in an airtight container. 

Carrot Cake Green Smoothie - Nutribullet

It feels so good to be back writing a blog post. It has been months and I almost forgot how good this feels. Life had been crazy busy. Hopefully this post will mark a comeback for me. Thanks again for sticking with my blog and sending me all the love!

Just want to start this post by talking about my newest gadget - Nutribullet. This is not a paid review. Just in love with it and wanted to share with all of you. If you are like me and tried a green smoothie before and did not like it, it is because you do not have the right gadget. A powerful blender like Nutribullet (or equivalent or Vitamix if  you can afford it) blasts thru the greens and nuts. This means you will NOT taste it at all. Trust me.

Now off to the recipe.The ingredients and combo can be varied to taste. I will try and post a few of my favourites here.

Ingredients

Spinach 2 handfuls
Carrot 1 large
Apple 1 cored
Oats 1/2 cup
Flax seeds 1 tsp
Raisins 2 tsp
Cardamon 1/4 tsp (or use cinnamon and ginger)
Milk (Almond, Soy or  regular) 1 cup

Method of preparation

1. Load you Nutribullet with spinach. Add the carrots,  apples, oats and the rest of the ingredients.

2. Top with milk and blitz till smooth.

Enjoy!!

Rava Ladoo - Rava Coconut Laddoo - Rava Laddu - Sooji ka Ladoo

Rava Ladoo is a laddu made with Semolina or Sooji Rava. You have to use a finer variety of rava. Not the powdery kind you use for Pani Puri. If your rava is a little too coarse, just pulse it in a mixie to get the texture right. Same with sugar. Not too coarse, not too powdery.

There are many different ways to make this laddu. Addition of coconut or not is a variation. Same with Milk. I have made this version with Coconut cause that's how we eat in our state Kerala. Most Tamilian Versions skip the coconut. Adding milk helps in rolling the laddu easily. But it reduces the shelf life of the laddu.

Thattai - Thattai recipe - Easy snack - Flat Deep fried Crisps - Gluten Free

Tattai is a personal favourite of mine. Though I have eaten it umpteen times, I have never made them before. As I was making things that each person likes, I thought I owe this to me! And big surprise, turns out everyone else loves it as much.

The good thing about this snack is that it does not need any gadgets to make. Most South Indian Snacks need the murukku press. This one is just your hands. So anyone can easily whip up a batch. Why not give it a go this Diwali?

Jalebi - North Indian Jalebi - Diwali Recipe

Jalebi is a very popular North Indian Sweet. This is not to be confused with the South Indian Sweet called Jangari (which also is sometimes referred to as Jalebi). The North Indian version that I have made here used Maida or All Purpose Flour, its thin, crispy and sugary. The South Indian version is made of Urad Dal Batter, it is thicker, softer and chewy.

I am a big fan of the South Indian Jangari. Am yet to post the recipe here for that though i made it before. This one is prepared on the special request of my son who usually does not like Sweets. He own words were it is crispy, sweet and yummy, what's not to like. So here you go.

Thenkozhal - Thenkozhal Murukku - Diwali Snack Recipe - Gluten Free, Vegan Option

Diwali is a time when all Indian homes are busy with the preparation of many varieties of sweets and snacks. Usually everyone in the house will have their own favourites. When we were little my mom used to make snacks and sweets per each persons request. Its the same in my mother in laws place as well. Somehow each person will wish for a different one and during diwali all those wishes are granted!

I am also busy making a variety of snacks and sweets. My dad is visiting and all the hard work of pressing the murukku was done by him. How lucky for me.

This Murukku is famous for its melt in the mouth texture. It does not have any spice like chilli powder or pepper added to it. Flavour comes from the cumin seeds.

Chocolate Mysore Pak - Ghee Mysore Pak - Easy Foolproof recipe - Diwali Special

Diwali is just round the corner. All of us will be preparing sweets and savories in the coming days and getting ready to celebrate. Mysore Pak is a very popular sweet and some consider it very tricky to make. But with the right technique, it is quite easy to make. This is a version with chocolate flavour. My mother used to make it. I made this on my brother's request.

Skull and Bone Crackers - Easy Halloween Recipe - Tortilla Crisps - Vegan

Super Easy treat for your next Halloween party. Not making for Halloween, You can just make it in any shape and enjoy. Remember, do not throw away the scarps. They bake great as well. :-)

Mummy Pizza - Halloween Recipe

Halloween is just round the corner. So I thought I will post some recipes that will be a big hit with kids and adults alike. This Pizza can be made with the kids. So a great party idea. They can make their own Mummies. How cool is that. Give it a try!

Nadan Mutta Roast - Kerala Egg Roast

Egg Roast is a popular dish served in Kerala, my home state. It tastes awesome with a lot of Kerala Breakfast items like Appam, Idiyappam, Parota etc. You can serve this is roti or rice as well. To me,the key taste ingredient is Curry Leaves. They impart an awesome aroma to this dish.