Cashew Appam

Appam is a sweet prepared during festive seasons. There are many variations making Appam It  can be made with Rice flour, wheat flour ,Maida can be made with sugar instead of Jaggery, etc.. For this Navaratri I tried   Cashews appam for first time. it s extremely delicious and came out very soft.This exotic sweet dish become very favourite of my family. People who love sweet would love it surely!

Ingredients:

Raw rice- 1cup

Ghee- 2 tbsp

Shredded coconut- 1/2cup

Cashew nuts-1/4 cup

small banana-1

Powdered Jaggery/sugar- 1/2cup

Cardamom powder- 1/4 tsp

Enough oil /gheeto fry

Method:

1.Soak the Rice and cashew separately in water for 2 hrs and Grind soaked rice and cashew adding little water till soft.

2.Then add the jaggery, coconut, banana, and grind to the consistency of dosa batter.finally add cardamom powder and mix well.

3.Heat the appa kaarai with oil/ghee. Pour one ladleful of the batter in each kuzhi till half.

4. Cook it in the medium flame, turn over and cook the other side till they become golden brown on all sides.yummy appam is done

Methi Dal

Methi dal recipe is pretty simple to make and This recipe made with fresh methi – fenugreek leaves. It is very healthy and Nutritious. For Methi dal we can use thur dal / moong dal / masoor dal or a combination of all of these. Here I have used moongdal and tur dal. I Serve t with hot steamed rice, jeera rice or pulao, roti’s and chapati for lunch and dinner.

Ingredients:

Tur dal - 1 cup.

Moong dal_ 1 cup

Methi leaves- 1 cup

Mustard seeds- 1 tsp

Cumin seeds- 1tsp

Dried red chilli-2

Red chilli powder- 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

Garliccloves-2 chopped

Ginger-1 tsp

Green chilli-2

Tomato-1

 Onion-1

Oil-2 tsp

asafoetida- pinch

curry leaves- few

Salt- as per taste

Method:

1.Boil dals in a pan or pressure cooker till soft.

2.Heat oil in a pan add the mustard seeds, jeera, who red chili, ginger, green chilli, garlic cloves and curry leaves and allow to splutter.

3.Then add the onion and fry till translucent. Then add  tomato and saute till it turns soft and mushy.

4.Mix in turmeric powder and red chili powder and salt to taste. Saute for a minute and add the fenugreek leaves/methi and cook till the methi leaves/fenugreek leaves turn its color.

5.Add this cooked Meth i masala to the cooked dal and Mix well. adding water if required to adjust consistency. cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

6. Methi dal recipe is ready to serve hot., serve methi dal with rice or roti.

Sathu Maavu Kanchi/Health Mix Porridge

 Sattu Maavu(Multi-Grain Powder )a healthy and nutritious powder which can be given to all age group people. It is very 'Nutritious Flour'. It is mainly used to make Kanji /Porridge. It is prepared using variety of grains and nuts. This health mix powder or energy mix powder and it is very flavorful .When my kids going to school I prepare this kanji for them . It is very filling and nutritious too and  very good alternative to the usual breakfast. After long time now I made this  health mix for my daughter for her post pregnancy .

Ingredients:

Whole wheat- 250 grams

Ragi/finger millet 100 grams

Kambu/ Indian millet 100 grams

barley -50 grams

Green gram/moong dal- 100 grams

Par-boiled rice -100 grams

Saago/saboodana- 100 grams

Ground nuts/peanuts -100 grams

Roasted split Chickpeas - Pottukadalai-100gms

 

For kanji:

Milk- 1 cup

 Warm Water – 1 cup

Health mix powder –1 to 2 tbsp

Sugar 2-3 spoons

 

Method:

Clean all the ingredients

Dry roast all the ingredients) separately until you get a nice aroma of roasted ingredients. Spread the roasted ingredients on a plate to cool. Then mix everything together.

Get it ground in a flour mill to a fine powder. Spread it on a plate to cool and then store it in an air tight container.

Just Before Serving:

Mix 1-2 tbsp of health mix powder with enough water without lumps. Cook on low flame, stirring continuously until it starts thickening. Then add needed milk and sugar. Your porridge/sathu maavu kanji is ready.

Eggless Devil's Food Cake

Egg less Devil's Food Cake

A Devil's Food Cake is an American classic.. Devil’s food cake is supposed to be darker ,less sweet and generally more moist and airy than other kinds of chocolate cake. The secret behind this moist, rich chocolate cake is mixing the cocoa powder and no melted baking chocolate. Sometimes there’s hot water, brewed coffee added. The lack of melted chocolate and the addition of coffee is typically what distinguishes a Devil's food cake from a chocolate cake

I made this cake for my Son's Birthday! This moist, fluffy and rich chocolate cake is simply the most came out really good. It was soft and super delicious .

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour/Maida- 1 cup

Cocoa Powder – 1/4 cup

Butter- 1 Cup (softened at room temperature)

Granulated Sugar- 2 Cups

Baking Powder- 1 Tsp

Baking Soda- 2 Tsp

Milk- ⅓ Cup

Instant Coffee Granules- 1 Tbsp

Water- 1 Cup

Vanilla Extract- 1 Tsp

For the Coffee Chocolate Frosting

 WhippedCream-1 cup

Butter- 1 tbsp

 Dark Chocolate- ¾ cup chopped ( I used milk chocolate)

 Instant Coffee Powder / Brewed Coffee-1 tbsp

 

Method:

1.Grease  a cake pan. Preheat oven to 180C

2.In a saucepan, add water, milk and instant coffee granules. Heat it until you see small bubbles forming on the rim of the mixture. 

3.Remove from the stove and allow it to cool down for 10 mins.

4.In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until it becomes creamy and is well combined.ThenAdd vanilla extract and mix.

5.In a separate bowl, lightly mix all the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt).

6.Once the coffee mixture cools down, Now add half of the dry ingredients and half of the coffee mixture to the butter mixture and combine well.

7.Once combined, add rest of the dry mixture and coffee mixture and combine well.

8.Bake the cake for 20to 25 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9.Once done, let the cake cool down in the pan for 10 mins and then place them on a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Frosting:

1.Cut the chocolate into chunks and add it to a bowl. Sprinkle instant coffee powder over it or the brewed coffee.

2.Bring the cream to a boil. Switch off as it starts to boil.

3.Pour cream all over the chocolate and let it rest for 2-3 minutes

4.Whisk furiously to form a smooth & glossy frosting. Let it cool completely.

5.When the chocolate is not runny and is little thick, it is ready for frosting.

Assemble the cake:

I made single cake and Cut into 2 equal halves and set aside

Place one layer of the cake on a cake stand. Add some ganache and spread it on the layer.

Put the other piece cake on top of the frosted cake.

Add some ganache on top of the cake and once done, frost the sides.And it’s done.

Garnish with chocolate shaves and chocolate chips.

Just refrigerate the cake for an hour so that the ganache sets.

Serve this mouth-watering cake !