Choco Walnut Cake!!

Choco Walnut Cake and Happy New Year 2017. Let's welcome the new year with a sweet note and put the past behind and look forward for the new beginning.. New year always brings the new thoughts and new things into our life, which gives a chance for everyone to make a new mistakes and wait for the next year to make a new resolution and break it again. hehehe😂. Anyways these things happens in life and I think everyday is a new year if you live your life to the fullest..

Ingredient's.

1+1/2 cup all purpose flour

1+1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tbsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup butter milk

3/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup cooking oil

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 cup chopped walnuts.

Baking Method.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Butter the baking pan and keep it aside.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, salt in a large bowl, set it aside.

Beat the oil and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl for few minutes. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the egg and blend for another minute or 2, add the vanilla essence and warm water and give a quick mix.

Now add the dry ingredients and with the speed on low mix together and slowly add the butter milk and just mix everything to combine, making sure not to over mix. Then add the 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and mix everything well.

Pour the batter into buttered pan and sprinkle the left over chopped walnuts and bake for 30 to 35minutes. Allow it cool before taking out from the pan. You can ice the cake with whipped cream or chocolate ganache. or as you like. 

Serve with Tea or Coffee.

Chutney Chicken Curry!! Pressure Cooker Version

Chutney Chicken Curry this is a very simple and one pot chicken curry. Which you can make in no time and serve with Hot Rice or Roti.. All you need is only few basic ingredients which is easily available in  house and the end result is very delicious chicken curry.

Ingredient's.

1/2kg chicken

Hand ful of coriander leaves

Hand ful of mint leaves

6 green chillies

10 to 15 curry leaves

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1tsp black pepper

1/2tsp turmeric

2tbsp oil

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

In mixing jar, grind all the above ingredients to smooth paste (except oil and salt)

In a pressure cooker, add oil, when its hot, add washed chicken, turmeric and salt, fry for 3 to 4 minutes.

Then add the ground masala and give a quick mix. Close the lid and cook for 2 whistle (1 in high flame and 1 in low flame).

Serve hot with Rice or Roti.

Tata Hexa Experience!!

After hearing from my bloggers friend about #HexaExperience in other cities across the country, I was quite eagerly waiting for it to happen in Bangalore as well. There was lot of hope build up and expectations were very high from this event. Finally got a invite from Indiblogger about this and the event was set in white Orchid, Inside Manyata Tech park, Nagawara, Bangalore on 24 Dec 2016.

The event was well organised with lot of happening around "something for everything". 

In the centre, was the car itself "HEXA" displayed and it was looking just amazing. There was lot of enthusiasm among people to know about the features of the car. 

On first look, the front grill is awesome. The curves on bonnet are so well designed that they give a feeling of power this vehicle can demonstrate. In my opinion it is one of the best things TATA has done in designing the front look of the car along with sophisticated grills.

Under the hood it comes with 2.2 L Vericor engine which can harness 156 PS@4000 rpm and has 400NM of torque. I could feel the this power and torque in off road experience itself. Based on the road condition and vehicle position, vehicle decides the power distribution and it made it look so easy to pass through those tough off road terrain.

However I would have preferred and liked it more if all parts inside bonnet including engine were covered with one piece of frame or plastic. It looked bit cluttered to me inside bonnet.

The vehicle comes in both manual transmission as well in automatic transmission which can be quite helpful in city driving.The Interiors of the vehicle are of good quality( I am not sure, if its same interior quality for all variants or it was only for high end model - don't forget to check if you are interested in buying one ).19" Alloy wheel which comes in high end variant is superb looking and simply compliment the overall look of the vehicle and provides stability and good grip on the road.

There are other tons of features including excellent infotainment system from Harman with powerful speakers, touch display, Aux, Bluetooth, USB, Navigation support. I think in long drives, you will not be disappointed playing with infotainment system. But I felt bit of delay in touch response while using infotainment system which is something can be further improved in order to deliver awesome feeling with whole infotainment usage. Coming to off road experience, I had first of such rides to experience. From going over high hill ,mud, uneven slopes, angular drive , it all went so smooth that you can hardly feel that the terrain is so tough to drive. There are various modes of drive in 'rough mode', 'hill climb' etc. which assist overall drive and make it a effortless driving experience.

Though the prices are not yet disclosed, but I was being told that it could range between Rs. 12L-18L range. #HexaExperience is certainly going to be appreciated by many people and I wish all the best for the success of the car.

Chocolate Ice Cream (Home Made without Ice cream Maker)

Chocolate Ice Cream/Homemade. Who knows making Ice Cream was so easy at home unless I started making, that too with out ice cream maker and all you need is only 3 main ingredients. You can flavour as you like, there is no end for the flavouring. Once you get a hang of making ice cream at home then you'll also stop buying from out. Its so easy and saves lot of time to go to grocery store and buy it.

Ingredient's.

1 cup heavy whipped cream

1/2 cup condensed milk

1/4 cup coco powder

Chocolate syrup for garnishing.

Method.

In a large mixing bowl. Add the cream and condensed milk and whipped till it becomes thick and creamy. Add the coco powder and give a quick mix.

Transfer it to any airtight container and freeze it for about 6 to 8 hours.

Serve chill with chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Coated Pistachio Biscotti With Pistachio Dust!

Chocolate Coated Pistachio Biscotti With Pistachio Dust! These are my all time favourite biscotti to bake with, they are easy and last long. Make a big batch of them and store in a airtight container and your evening snacks problem is solved. Its home made, healthy and yummy snack to have anytime of the day.

Ingredient's.

2 cups of plain flour

2 large eggs

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1tsp baking powder

1tsp vanilla essence

3/4 cup Pistachio.

For Decorating.

1/2 cup melted dark chocolate

1/4 cup pistachio (grind into a course powder).

Baking Method.

Pre-heat the oven 180c for 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl add flour and baking powder and mix them nicely. roughly chop the pistachio and mix it with flour and set it aside.

In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar beat until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, vanilla essence and beat for another 2 to 3 minutes

Then mix in the dry ingredients and beat until the dry ingredients are well mixed.

On a lightly floured surface roll dough into a log about 14 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. Transfer to baking tray and bake for 35-40 mins.

Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 mins.

Then cut into slices 1/2 inch thick diagonally and arrange evenly on baking tray. Bake for 10 mins on each side (until they are firm). Remove from oven and cool.

Once they are well cooled. dip the biscotti into a melted chocolate and sprinkle the pistachio dust on top and allow them to dry for 20 to 30 minutes. 

Store them into airtight container.

Chilli Cheese Toast With Avocado!

Chilli Cheese Toast With Avocado! Easy beezy breakfast on busy weekdays or weekends. Paired with milkshake or juice makes a very healthy and filling dish.

Ingredients.

4 slices of bread (white or brown)

2 tbsp pizza sauce

1 medium onion, 1 medium tomato. 1 small capsicum (Finely chopped)

1/2 ripped avocado

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Pinch of black pepper powder

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Pre-heat the oven at 180c for 10 minutes.

Apply pizza sauce on the bread on one side. Then arrange the chopped onion, capsicum and tomatoes. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Then sprinkle the cheese on all the bread.

Grill the bread till the cheese is melted.

Now arrange the avocado slices on top of the grilled toast and sprinkle some more salt and pepper.

Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Oats Cheese Cake With Britannia Nutrichoice Oats Cookies. Diabetic Friendly.

Healthy version of Oats Cheese Cake made with Britannia Nutrichoice Oats Cookies and honey, which I learnt at Diabetic Food Trail Masterclass. It was so yummy yet healthy and that stole my heart and never wanted to wait for trying this recipe at home with my own twist. Here comes the recipe of oats cheese cake with my own twist and it taste as good as the original recipe and I must say this is an a awesome dessert or breakfast for the health conscious people who might be bored of eating that plain and tasteless food.. Seriously I can't believe that diabetic food also can be made so tasty until I attended this event. A big thanks to Ms.Seema Pinto and Mr.Manoj Pinto for coming up with this diabetic food trail and making those people happy who are banned to eat something sweet.. There are many more recipes coming up which I have learnt in the event.. People do try this healthy cheese cake you'll definitely fall in love as I have.

Ingredient's.

1 cup quicker oats

1/2 cup cream cheese

3/4 cup yogurt

1/2 cup milk

10 Britannia nutrichoice oats cookies

5 tbsp honey (add more if needed)

1/ 2 cup chopped dry fruits (almonds, cashew and pistachio)

1 tbsp strawberry compound.

Method.

In a mixing bowl, add oats, cream cheese, milk, yogurt and 2tbsp honey and give nice mix. Then cover the lid and refrigerate over night or atleast 4 to 5 hours.

Then finely grind the oats cookies and take it out to another mixing bowl, add the 3tbsp honey and make a crumble, (add more honey if needed, for me this much of honey was enough since we don't like much sweet)

Now take serving glass/bowl, add the cookies crumble down and make a base, then take out the overnight cream cheese mixture and add half of the dry fruits and give a quick mix. then pour the mix on top of the cookies base and garnish with strawberry compound and leftover dry fruits. Then put the glasses back to refrigerator for atleast 25 to 30 minutes to set.

Serve chill.

Baked Pasta With Herbs And Cheese.

Baked Pasta With Herbs And Cheese. This is one of my on go dish every time when I have no time to cook or not in mood to cook. This is such an incredibly easy recipe, all you have to do is just boil the pasta of your choice, mix some herbs and salt, then top with some mozzarella cheese and bake for 10 minutes and Serve with some garlic bread for Lunch or Dinner.

Ingredient's.

250 gram Macaroni Pasta (boiled as per the instruction on the pack)

1 tsp mix Italian herbs

1/2 tsp red chilli flakes

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.

Baking Method.

Pre-heat the oven to 180c for 10 minutes.

In a mean time, take a large mixing bowl, add boiled pasta, mix herbs, paprika, salt, olive oil, 1/2 cup cheese and chilli flakes.

Mix them all together and transfer the pasta to a baking dish, now sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake for 10 minutes or till the cheese is melted.

Serve hot with some garlic bread and tomato soup.

Cabbage And Onion Grill Sandwich With Coconut Oil.

Cabbage And Onion Grill Sandwich With Coconut Oil. This is yet another simple and yummy recipe which I learnt from our house boat chef from our recent trip to Kerala. I must say he use to make delicious food with simple ingredients and the star of the dish was coconut oil. He use to add coconut oil in everything and he made this sandwich also with the same oil and that simple sandwich took a very big place in my heart and I became a big fan of Kerala and there cuisine..

Ingredient's.

4 slices of sandwich bread

1 cup of finely chopped cabbage

1 large finely chopped onion

2 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp red chilli powder

Salt to taste

Butter as needed (to apply on bread)

Method.

In a wok add coconut oil, when its hot, add cabbage and onion, fry to golden brown. Sprinkle the red chilli powder and salt, fry for another minute or 2. Take it out in bowl and allow it to cool a bit.

Then apply the butter on all the sides of the bread.

Now place the filling on one side of the bread and place another bread on top and grill for 4 to 5 minutes or till golden brown.

Serve hot with Tea, Coffee or any Juice..

Akki Roti (Karnataka Style)

Akki Roti (Karnataka Style) is very popular Karnataka Breakfast, can be served with any type of chutney or with chicken curry. It makes a very healthy and filling breakfast. I have  made it in little different way to get a perfect round shape. This roti can be even cooked with raw rice flour but you need a bit of more hard work to roll the roti. This method will give you perfect round shape roti and it solves the purpose of eating akki roti..

Ingredient's.

1 cup rice flour

1 cup water

1tbsp oil

1/2 tsp cumin 

1 large onion, 2 green chillies (finely chopped)

Hand full of chopped coriander leaves

2 tbsp grated coconut

Salt to taste.

Cooking Method.

Bring water to a rolling boil in a sauce pan. Add salt, oil and cumin, give a mix, then add rice flour, onion, green chilles, coriander, coconut and mix well until no lumps remain. 

Turn the heat off. Cover the pan and set it aside for 5 minutes. Now knead the dough while its still hot, make it like a chapati dough.

Heat a tava on medium heat. Once heated, turn the heat to low.

Divide the dough into 2 inch balls and keep them covered under a damp cloth.

Spread some rice flour on the rolling board. Place a ball in the center and sprinkle more flour on top. Keep rolling the ball with the rolling pin into a round with even thickness.

Transfer onto the heated tava with the top surface up and cook the roti both the side. Apply little oil if needed on to both the side.

Follow the same method for the rest of them.

Serve hot with any Chutney or Chicken curry.

CornFlakes Mixture.

CornFlakes Mixture. Dilwali is around the corner and in every house the Diwali preparation is on full swing. I can see on my FB page only different types snacks, sweets and this will go for another few days till the Diwali is over.. This is a so easy recipe and in no time you'll have hot hot snack ready. I'm a very big snacks eating person and I love munching something in my free time. I keep trying many types of snacks and I make sure that I have lots and lots of snacks in my pantry.. This is one of my all time favourite mixture and it solves all the purpose of not having anything as a side dish for your lunch, dinner or even for the drinks too.. Do try and let me know.

Ingredient's.

2 cups of Raw Corn Flakes

1/2 cup Peanuts

1/4 cup Roasted gram

Handful of Curry leaves

1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp garam masla

1/4 tsp roasted cumin powder

1 tbsp powdered sugar (optional)

Salt to taste

Oil for deep frying.

Cooking Method.

In a small mixing bowl, add red chilli powder, turmeric, garam masal, cumin powder, coriander powder, sugar and salt, mix them altogether and keep it aside.

In a deep frying pan (Kadai) heat enough oil for deep frying, once the oil hot, fry the peanuts and roasted gram till the turn crispy. Take them out on to a kitchen towel and set it aside.

Now in the same oil, add the raw corn flakes and fry to golden brown, (fry little by little) remove them to the same plate which you have fried peanuts and roasted gram, once all the corn flakes are fried, then turn off the flame and fry the curry leaves till they turn crisp.

Then in large mixing bowl, add all the fried ingredients and sprinkle the masala powder which you have prepared earlier, while the other ingredients are still hot. Mix everything together well, allow the mixture to cool, once its completely cooled. Store them into a Airtight container.

Serve as and when needed.