Crunchy Orange Cookies With Chocolate Topping

Crunchy Orange Cookies With Chocolate Topping

You will find it extremely difficult to resist these scrumptious and crunchy biscuits especially with oranges slowly disappearing from the market. Add more zest for that extra punch. Extremely healthy with wholewheat flour, jaggery, fresh orange juice and the antioxidant loaded orange zest, go for it!

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour – 250 gm

Custard powder – 2 tbsp

Cornflour – 1 tbsp

Baking powder – 1 tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Sesame seeds – 3 tbsp

Freshly squeezed orange juice – ½ cup

Zest of 2 oranges (can add 3 also)

Jaggery (powdered) – 100 gm

Butter (melted) – 100 gm

Coconut or any vegetable oil – ¼ cup

Method

Sift the dry ingredients twice

WhIsk together orange juice, oil and butter

Add jaggery and whisk it well till it is completely dissolved

Add orange zest and sesame seeds and mix well

Add half of the dry ingredients to this and whisk till the mixture starts to thicken

Add the rest and knead gently

Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 mins

Take portions of the dough and roll it out and cut it out in desired shapes

Bake in a preheated oven at 160 degrees C for about 15 or 20 mins

Let it cool in the oven

Topping

Melt dark chocolate

Dip each cookie in it or make your own designs on it

Enjoy for breakfast or as a teatime snack guilt free

Health Benefits Of Orange Peels (zest)

Orange peels are rich in flavonoids, like hesperidin and polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), and other phytochemicals, which have many health benefits

Compounds in oranges may have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy and heart-healthy effects

Orange peel contains higher amounts of certain nutrients, like vitamin C, than its flesh

Orange peel also contains considerable amounts of calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, folate and other B vitamins and dietary fiber

Orange peels have an intense orange and bitter flavor; the bitter taste is the result of the many flavonoids that it contains

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Orange Sesame Cake with Low fat Cream Cheese Filling

Orange Sesame Cake with Low fat Cream Cheese Filling

My fascination for fruit based desserts and cakes continues. It's so easy to make a simple orange sponge cake. I wanted to try out something more intense; and was thrilled when I came across this recipe. The draw was the toasted sesame seeds on top. Not only is it nutritious but also adds a healthy crunch to the cake. This cake is a little tedious to put together. but it's totally worth it. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

Flour - 1 ½ cups

Custard Powder – 1 tbsp

Baking powder - 1 ½ tsp

Baking Soda - ½ tsp

Orange zest - 3 tbsp

Salt

Eggs - 2

Oil - ½ cup

Jaggery - 3/4 cup

Orange juice - ½ cup

Sesame seeds (toasted) - 3 to 4 tbsp

Method

Beat jaggery and oil together till smooth

Add orange juice

Beat eggs

Add to the oil mixture

Sieve the dry ingredients and add to the egg mix

Mix the orange zest

Top the batter with the sesame seeds. Keep 1 tbsp aside

Bake. Cool

Topping

Oranges (medium sized) – 2 or 3

Jaggery – ½ cup

Water – ½ cup

Method

Slit the oranges horizontally and keep aside

Heat water, add jaggery. Let it mix well and form slightly syrupy

Add the orange slices and cook till translucent

Cool

Cream Cheese Filling

Low-fat paneer (from toned cow milk) - 100 gms from 500 ml milk
Milkmaid - 2 tbsp

Blend together to form cream cheese. Add a bit of orange flesh and mix

Assemble The Cake

Cut the cake horizontally into two

Spread the cream cheese layer generously

Place the orange slices over it

Cover with the other slice

Place orange slices on it

Pour a bit of the syrup on it

Top with the remaining sesame seeds

Serve warm

Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds

Boosts Digestion

Stabilizes blood pressure

Boosts bone health

Helps Fight Stress and Depression

High Source of Unsaturated Fats

Good Source of Energy

Boosts Dental Health

Boosts Skin Health

Anti-ageing properties

Triggers Hair Growth

Spicy Clams In A Claypot (Mangalorean style)

Clams Masala (Mangalorean style)

Ingredients

Clams – 500 gms

To Roast

Fenugreek seeds (methi) – ½ tsp

Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 tsp

Coriander seeds (dhania) – 3  tsp

Peppercorns (kala miri) – 1 tsp

Dried Red chilies (Byedgi variety) – 18 (adjust according to spice level)

To add to masala

Coconut – ½ cup

Garlic – 12 cloves

Tamarind – 2 tbsp

For tempering                        

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Curry leaves (kadi patta) – ¼ cup
Coconut oil – 30 to 40 ml

Other ingredients

Onions (finely chopped)  - 2

Turmeric powder – 1 tsp

Method
Step 1
Dry roast the spices in little coconut oil
Cool
Powder it
Add tamarind and blend it well

Step 2
Crush coconut and garlic flakes
Add to the spice mix in a bowl

Step 3
Heat oil
Add mustard seeds
Let it splutter
Add curry leaves
Add onions and little salt
When onions turn translucent, add turmeric powder and clams
Add little water and cook it till almost done
Add the coconut-spice mix
Adjust salt and mix it well
Serve with Manglorean brown rice, dal and a green vegetable or salad

Health Benefits Of Clams

Contains high levels of vitamin B12

Best Lean Protein Option

Boosts Immunity

Rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Rich in iron

Natural Multivitamin dose - Vitamin C, B 12, copper, phosphorus,riboflavin and iron  

Bikini Bread

Bikini Bread

I am a die-hard fan of fresh fruits and veggies and like to bake with them whenever possible. It's a good idea to include their natural goodness in food. So my paranthas and cakes will always be loaded with these naturals. The flavour of the week is zucchini, one of my favourites. This one has spices and jaggery to to give it a natural spice n sweet flavour with walnuts to add that crunch. This bread can be a 5 pm hunger snack or perfect breakfast on the go! Teamed with eggs it's your balanced morning meal. And it's quick to make. You have to beat the eggs lightly, unlike a cake where you have to beat the whites separately till light and fluffy. This loaf is a happy cross between a bread and cake. It's called Zucchini Bikini Bread. Bikini rhymes with zucchini and is added just for effect. So happy baking! 

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour – 1 ½ cup

Jaggery (powder) – 1 cup

Salt – ½ tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Baking powder – ½ tsp

Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp

Nutmeg powder – ½ tsp

Cloves powder – ½ tsp

Ginger powder – ½ tsp

Eggs – 2

Coconut oil – ½ cup

Vanilla essence – ½ tsp

Walnut pieces – ¼ cup (optional)

Zucchini (grated) – 1 cup (heaped

Banana (elaichi) – 1 (overripe)

Method

Beat oil and eggs together

Mix all the dry ingredients

Add slowly to the egg mix and mix

Add the zucchini and walnuts and mix

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees C for about 25 mins

Cool slightly and serve warm with a hot cup of tea or coffee 

Health Benefits of Zucchini

Anti-inflammatory

Loaded with antioxidants

Improves digestion

Slows down aging

Lowers blood sugar levels

Supports healthy circulation and a healthy heart

Improves eye health

Boosts energy

Weight loss

Improves thyroid and adrenal functions

Dark Chocolate Cake Drizzled With Strawberry Sauce

Dark Chocolate Cake With Strawberry Drizzle 

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour – ¾ cup

Custard powder – ¼ cup

Jaggery (powdered) – 1

Cocoa powder – ½ cup

Baking powder – 1 tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Salt – 1 tsp

Eggs – 2

Coconut oil – ½ cup

Milk (warm) – ½ cup (to adjust consistency of batter)

Apple Cider Vinegar – 1 tbsp

Lime juice – ½ lemon

Strawberry sauce – ¼ cup

Method

Beat eggs with salt and lime juice

Sieve flour and custard powder twice with baking powder and soda

Add jaggery and the rest of the dry ingredients

Add dry mix little at a time to the egg mix

Add oil and mix

Add vinegar to milk and add to batter to adjust consistency        

Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees C for about 20 mins

Let it cool in the oven

Strawberry Sauce

Strawberries - 1 cup

Jaggery powder – 2 tbsp

Method

Slice strawberries

Add water and jaggery powder

Cook till it become soft and forms a thickish mixture

Cool and store