Death By Chocolate and Strawberries

 Death By Chocolate and Strawberries 

I wanted to make the most of the end of season of oranges and strawberries. So I decided to bake an orange cake. Then I wondered how to use all of the strawberries I had just bought. I wanted to add as much as was possible. So I made a strawberry compote which I used to sandwich the two parts of the cake. Then I topped up this layer with chocolate ganache. The rest of the strawberries were cut into chunks and went on to make the topping on the chocolate ganache. Chocolate goes well with both oranges and strawberries. So it was a heady fruity and chocolaty concoction at the end of it; something I just love.  Although the cake looks very rich and indulgent, it's not so sinful after all. Except for the cream in the chocolate ganache and little butter in the cake, wholewheat flour, jaggery and fruits are the major components of this cake. So let's call it a less sinful version of the original Chocolate Ganache Cake.  

Ingredients
Wholewheat flour – ¾ cup

Custard powder (vanilla) – ¼ cup

Jaggery powder – ¾ cup

Cocoa Powder - 2 tbsp

Instant coffee powder – 1 tsp

Cinnamon powder – ¼ tsp

Baking powder - 1tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Egg – 1

Milk – ½ cup

Vinegar – 1 tsp

Orange juice – ½ cup

Butter (melted) – ¼ cup

Method

Mix all the dry ingredients except baking powder and soda well with a whisk

Add baking powder and soda to orange juice

Add this to the flour mix slowly

Beat the egg

Fold in gradually into the cake mixture

Mix using cut and fold method

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C

Bake for 20 to 25 mins depending on the oven

Keep an eye on the cake to prevent burning

Strawberry Compote

Ingredients

Strawberries – 5 or 6

Jaggery powder – 1 or 2 tbsp (depending on the sweetness of the strawberries)          

            

Method

Cut strawberry into slices

Add jaggery and mix well

Microwave for 3 or 4 mins

Mash well while still hot

Let it cool

Icing The Cake 

Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients

Fresh Cream – 100 ml

Dark Chocolate Chips – 1 cup

Instant coffee powder – 1 tsp

Method

Microwave the cream on high for 1 minute

Add the chocolate chips and mix well

Cover and keep aside

Mix well again after 15 mins

Let it cool

Method

Slit the cake horizontally into two parts

Separate the two parts

Spread a thick layer of the strawberry compote on one part

Spread a thick layer of chocolate ganache over it

Cover with the other part

Spread chocolate ganache on the sides and top of the cake

Top with strawberry chunks or slices 

Thai Red Chicken Curry

Thai Red Chicken Curry

Ingredients
Chicken Breasts (cut into bite size pieces) - 300 gms
Ginger (grated) - 1 inch piece
Onions (medium) - 3
Tomatoes (Medium) - 2 
Thai Red Curry Paste - 3 or 4 tbsp (heaped)
Red chilly powder (if more spicy desired) - 1 tbsp (heaped)
Basil leaves - 1 big handful (more if desired)
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
Coconut milk (medium consistency) - 1/4 cup

Method
Heat oil in a non-stick pan
Add ginger and fry it
Add onions and pinch of salt
Saute on slow fire to soften it
Add tomatoes and mix well
Add the Thai curry paste and mix well
Add chili powder if you like it more spicy
Add basil leaves and mix well
Add water and cook on slow fire for 10 mins till it becomes a nicely blended mixture
Add chicken pieces, salt, mix, cover and cook till it becomes tender
Add coconut milk, mix well and cook for 5 mins
Eat with steamed rice   

Health Benefits of Basil

Anti-inflammatory

Antioxidant

Cancer-fighter

Pain-reducer (analgesic)

Fever-reducer (antipyretic)

Diabetes-preventer

Liver-protector (hepatoprotective)

Blood vessel-protector

Anti-stress solution

Immune-booster

Coriander Parantha

Coriander Parantha

Ingredients
Wholewheat flour - 1 cup
Coriander leaves (fresh) - 1 cup
Garlic-green chili paste - 1/4 cup (more if desired)
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
(Makes 4 paranthas)

Method
Mix all the ingredients together
Add water gradually and knead into a dough
Keep aside for 15 mins
Roll out to form a flaky lachcha parantha
Roast on a non-stick pan using ghee   

Health Benefits of Coriander

Lower Blood Sugar. ...

Ease Digestive Discomfort. ...

Decrease Blood Pressure. ...

Fight Food Poisoning. ...

Improve Cholesterol Levels. ...

Help Urinary Tract Infections. ...

Support Healthy Menstrual Function

Prevents anemia..

Sapodilla Bread Cake With Chocolate Drizzle

Sapodilla Bread Cake With Chocolate Drizzle

Ingredients

Wholewheat flour – ¾ cup

Baking powder – ½ tsp

Baking soda – ¼ cup

Jaggery (powder) – ½ cup (more if you like it sweeter)

Curd – ½ cup (more or less according to consistency of batter)

Sapodilla (Chikoo)–  2 (medium)

Dates - 5

Egg - 1

Cashewnut pieces – ¼ cup

Vanilla essence – ¼ tsp

Coconut oil or butter – ¼ cup

Salt (only if using oil) – ¼ tsp

Cinnamon powder – ¼ tsp

Chocolate sauce – 1 or 2 tbsp

Method

Mix all the dry ingredients well

Blend chikoos and dates using curd

Gradually add to the dry mixture

Add chopped cashewnuts and mix slowly

Beat egg well

Gradually fold into the cake mixture

Top with chocolate sauce swirls

Preheat oven to 160 degrees C

Bake for about 12 mins

Monitor it as time required varies with different ovens

Let it cool

Cut into slices and serve warm with tea or coffee

Chicken Quinoa Pasta In Basil Pesto Sauce

Chicken Quinoa Pasta In Basil Pesto Sauce

Quinoa is the go to cereal now for most people on a weight loss or gluten free diet. Gradually, over the years, it has become a familiar food grain. The health conscious and fitness freaks have suddenly woken up to its health benefits. I have used quinoa to make puddings, cakes, stir-fry and lasagne too. And then I discovered quinoa pasta

Ingredients

Quinoa pasta (raw) – ½ cup

Chicken (boneless) – 150 gms

Spring onions – 2 bunches (small)

Capsicum (big) – 1

Basil sauce – 1/2 cup

Salt – to taste

Olive oil – ½ tsp

Method

Add salt and lemon juice to the chicken pieces and microwave it for 8 to 10 mins till cooked

Cool and cut intp long slices

Chop the vegetables

Cook the pasta in hot water for 5 to 10 mins till done but still firm

Drain and keep aside

Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan

Add the vegetables

Stir fry for 5 mins

Add pesto sauce

Add more or less according to your taste

Add the chicken pieces

Mix well

Add pasta and mix carefully

Basil Pesto Sauce

Ingredients

Basil leaves (fresh) – 1 cup

Parmesan cheese (grated ) – ¼ cup

Extra virgin Olive oil –  ¼ cup

Pine nuts or chopped walnuts – 1/3 cup

Garlic cloves (minced) - 3

Black pepper (freshly ground) - to taste

Salt - to taste

Method

Place the basil leaves and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse several times

Add the garlic and cheese and pulse several times more

Add olive oil slowly, while the processor is running

Occasionally, scrape down the sides of the food processor

Add salt and black pepper to taste

Health Benefits of Quinoa

Good vegetarian protein source

Gluten free

Good fibre content

Has heart healthy fats

Rich in antioxidants

Good source of vitamins, magnesium and iron

Helps in weight loss

Health Benefits of Basil

Contains antioxidants

Acts as anti-Inflammatory

Anti-bacterial properties

Fights stress and depression

Promotes Cardiovascular health

Broken Wheat Pancake

Broken Wheat Pancake

Ingredients
Broken Wheat (fine variety) - 1 cup
Sour Curd - 3/4 cup (adjust quantity according to consistency of batter)
Grated coconut (fresh) - 1 or 2 tbsp
Jaggery - 1 tbsp
Banana (overripe, sweet) - 1
Green chilies - 2 (can increase or decrease according to taste)
Curry leaves (shredded) - 2 or 3 sprigs
Salt - to taste

Method
Soak split wheat in curd for 10 to 15 minutes
Coarse grind coconut, banana and green chilies
Add to soaked wheat
Add salt, jaggery and curry leaves
Mix well
Batter should be thick, that can be spread with hand on the pan
Smear a non-stick pan with little coconut oil
Spread the batter on the pan carefully to form a pancake or thick dosa (adai)
Cover and let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes
Open the lid and carefully flip it over
Let the other side cook
It should be thick and crispy
Makes for a great healthy breakfast  

Health Benefits of Broken Wheat

Fibre rich

Rich in minerals and B vitamins
Low GI
Diabetic friendly
Helps in weight loss
Helps to control belly fat
Anti-inflammatory

Chocolate Orange Cake with Melon Seeds

Chocolate Orange Cake with Melon Seeds

Last evening, it suddenly struck me that I hadn't baked my customary healthy orange cake this season. I promptly bought a couple of Malta oranges and baked this super healthy, moist and yummy cake. I added some cocoa powder for that slight bitter taste. It's awesome as a tea or coffee cake. Do try out this cake before oranges go out of the market. 

Ingredients

Wholewheat flour – ¾ cup

Custard powder (vanilla) – ¼ cup

Egg – 1 or Hung curd – ½ cup
Jaggery powder – ¾ cup
Cocoa Powder - 2 tbsp
Melon Seeds - 2 tbsp

Baking powder - 1tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Orange zest – ½ to 3/4 peel

Orange juice – ½ cup

Coconut oil – ¼ cup

Method

Mix dry ingredients well

Add oil, orange zest and orange juice

Mix well

Beat the eggs

Add to the mixture and mix using cut and fold method

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes

While we're all aware of the health benefits of oranges, let's look at orange zest:

Lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol

Has anti-cancer effects

Contains considerable amounts of calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, folate and other B vitamins
Contains dietary fibre