Madeira Cake

Madeira cake is a simple English cake.   Made this cake for my hubby's office party and it was a hit, they all enjoyed it.  

Ingredients

175 Grams Butter
125 Grams Caster sugar 
1 Teaspoon  Lemon zest 

3/4  Cup Self Raising Flour 

3/4  Cup All Purpose Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder

3 Eggs

1/2 Cup Sliced Almonds

4 Tablespoon Milk

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Method

Sieve both the flours  and baking powder together. 

Beat butter and sugar till light and creamy. Add lemon rind. Start adding eggs once at a time and continue beating till the all the eggs are incorporated .Add essence  and whisk again, then add  flour and a tablespoon of milk and continue beating till the flour and milk is incorporated, add half the sliced almonds and lightly mix it.  Pour this mixture into a greased and lined baking tray bake on 180 degrees for 40 to 45 mins.

Cool and slice... enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.  

My Notes

Made a small round cake from this batter to for us to have for tea.

Labels : Cakes, United Kingdom, Almond

Stuffed Aloo Parathas #BreadBakers

When I, visited Himachal for holidays  recently with my friends, these luscious Aloo Parathas were an integral part of our meal whether breakfast  or lunch.   

These parathas are stuffed with a succulent mixture of mashed potatoes, green chillies and onions ..,  stilll remember the taste and how we  relished these parathas , which is an indispensable part of North Indian cuisine.   

When  November's theme - root vegetables was shared by our Host  Karen , the first thing that came to my mind was these luscious Aloo Parathas.  
Ingredients
For The Dough
2 Cups  Whole Wheat Flour
1 Tablespoons  Ghee - melted
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt

For The Stuffing
5 Medium Potatoes -  boiled , peeled and mashed
1 Medium Onion -  finely chopped 2 - 3 Green Chillies - finely chopped 
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/4 Teaspoon Sendav Namak
1/2 Teaspoon Heaped Chat Masala powder
2 Tablespoons Coriander  leaves - finely chopped 

Other Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - for rolling
Desi Ghee as required
Method 
For the dough

Combine the whole wheat flour, ghee and salt in a bowl and mix well.
Add enough water and knead into a lightly soft dough. Keep aside covered for at least half an hour.

For the stuffing

In a bowl add the  potatoes, turmeric powder,  green chillies, salt, coriander leaves,  chat masala powder, mix well and form  a ball
Divide the stuffing into equal portions and keep aside.

To make the parathas

Divide the dough into equal portions according to the stuffing.

Roll a portion of the dough into a small circle.

Place a little stuffing in the center of the circle.

Bring together all the sides in the center

Close it  tightly

Remove the excess dough from the top and roll it lightly to make a ball .

Roll again into a  slightly thick circle / paratha,  dusting the work surface with a little flour.  

Keep them a side on a paper towel, cover and keep.  In the meantime place the tava / griddle  to heat on low flame.  Like wise prepare the  remaining parathas.  

When the  tava / griddle is heated, place a paratha  and let it cook on low flame till one side is done.  

Then flip and cook this sided too.  

When both side are done then spread  a little ghee of top and the sides and let it cook  until golden brown spots appear on both the sides.

Serve immediately.  Enjoy it fresh with curds and pickle.

Labels : Rotis, Aloo,  Parathas, Bread Bakers, Stuffed Bread 


Check out our other Breads from the Bread Bakers

Beetroot Bread from Sara's Tasty Buds
Caramelized Onion Cheddar Bread from Hezzi-D's Cooks and Books
Caramelized Onion Gouda Casatiello from Hostess at Heart
Carrot Spiced and Teff Bread from kidsandchic
Colocasia Root (Taro Root) Flatbread from Mayuri's Jikoni
Garlic and Herb Wreath Bread from Herbivore Cucina
Garlic Cheese Bombs from Sizzling Tastebuds
Ginger Sweet Rolls from Passion Kneaded
Honey Beet Bread from Ambrosia Soulful Kitcnen
Korean Onion Bread from Gayathri's Cook Spot
Potato Dinner Rolls from Cook's Hideout
Pull Apart Onion Bread from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Rustic Parsnip Bread from Food Lust People Love
Sourdough Onion Pockets from Karen's Kitchen Stories
Stuffed Aloo Parathas from Sneha's Recipes
Sweet Potato Bread from Cindy's Recipes and Writings #BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.

Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups#Foodieextravaganza

This month for Foodie Extravaganza {Party} I am the host. I am so happy to be a part of this group. This month the theme is Peanut Butter. I have made this dessert just yesterday for our Diwali lunch. These mini cups are just apt as a dessert, one bite, no guilt feelings of gorging on too much chocolate and very light. These are a pleasant change from the normal desserts that are always prepared.   They were a hit with my guest.  

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL MY FRIENDS

Ingredients
½ Cup Homemade Creamy Peanut Butter 

¼ Cup Homemade Strawberry Crush
½  Teaspoon Gelatin

1 Tablespoon Water
100 Grmas Dark Chocolate - melted for cups
50 Grams Milk Chocolate - melted for cups
Miniature chocolate cups
Peanut crunch for decoration

A drop of strawberry chocolate essence
Method

In a microwave proof bowl add the  chopped dark and milk chocolate and microwave for 30 seconds at a time till the chocolate melts.  Then  whisk it till  smooth add the essence and again whisk it till incorporate.  

Fill each cup with chocolate and keep it in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes till the chocolate just begins to set. Take them from the fridge and empty it till a thick coating remains on the sides and bottom (i.e till a cup is formed).

Keep these cups back it in the fridge to chill till set/harden. 

In the meantime lets prepare the jelly.

In a sauce pan add the water and sprinkle the gelatin , keep it aside for 10 minutes till the gelatin blooms. Now add the strawberry crush and mix well. Place this on very low flame and stir it continuously till the gelatin melts. Take off flame and let it cool lightly.

For the peanut crunch, I used peanut chikki which is crushed with a rolling pin. 

Now take the cups out from the fridge and fill in peanut butter a ¼ teaspoon each with a piping bag. Press the peanut butter lightly with a back of a spoon to flatten it. Keep it in the fridge to set for 10 minutes.   

Then cover with strawberry jelly. 

Sprinkle  peanut crunch.   Chill till set. Then store in the fridge. Serve .. peel the paper and enjoy the burst of flavors ... simply yum... 

Labels: Sweets & Desserts, Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Foodie Extravaganza Party 

Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly food fest, where a group of bloggers all create and share a recipe around one of the monthly food 'holidays' as detailed in The Nibble. This month Sneha from Snehas Recipe is hosting, Peanut Butter is our theme. Posting day is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you're a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE. Check out these great Peanut Butter submissions!

More Peanut Butter Recipes
Homemade Peanut butter Cups from Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Cold Noodles with Asian Peanut Sauce from Hardly a Goddess
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars from Palatable Pastime
Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal and Chocolate Chips from A Day in the Life on the Farm Peanut Butter Cookies from Basic N Delicious
Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Sneha's Recipe
West African Peanut Soup from Caroline's Cooking
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bread from Making Miracles

CHANA DAL BARFI

This barfi is a lengthy process but worth the effort.  The most time taken is to cook the dal in milk or else it's a quick and easy barfi.

When boiling this dal take a wide thick bottom kadai to cook the dal, if you see the pics I, first used a big saucepan then changed it to a kadai, which quickened the process. It took me almost 2 hours to cook and dry the milk.  I just left it on low flame stirring in between after every 15 minutes,  Only in the last 10 to 15 minutes when the milk was nearly in evaporating stage I stirred it continuously.  So you can just leave it on low flame and finish all your cooking, then attend to it.  

Ingredients
1 Cup Heaped Chana Dal
1+1/4 Cup Heaped Tea Sugar
12 Skinned Almonds - sliced
1 Cup Ghee - I used Desi Ghee / Pure Ghee
1 Liter Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
A pinch Yellow food color

Method

Wash and soak the dal for 2  hours in water.

  

After 2 hours again wash the dal and boil it in milk in a pan / kadai.  

Cook till soft, when the milk starts evaporating , at this stage stir it continuously or else it may burn (so keep an eye on it ). 

When the dal is cooked and milk evaporated then immediately blend it in a small blender by placing a towel on the jar in case it opens with it the heat.  Blend to a fine paste.

Heat  ghee in a heavy bottom pan / kadai, add dal paste stir continuously, for about 10 minutes at least on low flame or till you get a aroma and it also starts bubbling and the ghee is absorbed. 

Now add  sugar, food color and cardamon powder keep stirring again continuously on low flame. Cook till the mixture starts to leave the sides of pan and starts to  form a ball in the center, remove in a well greased tray and press it to level it ( could not take pics at this stage since I had to stir this continuously). 

Decorate with sliced almonds. Leave to set, for an hour then cut in cubes and again leave it to cool completely for about 6 to 8 hours .
   

Store it in airtight containers, for a day or two out and then in the fridge ( since it has milk and will mildew quickly).  

This barfi is really yummy taste as though its brought from the sweet shop.

These are packed for my Diwali party... you too make and enjoy.

Sending this to MLLA , hosted by Cooking with Siri which completes 100th this month

Labels : Chana Dal, Lentils, Festival Sweets, Barfi

Shrimps And Tagliatelle Pasta In Napoletana Sauce #FISH FRIDAY FOODIE

When the theme for this month was given by our host Caroline Williams - create some pasta dishes with fish and seafood. I was quite thrilled, always prepared pasta with poultry or veggies, never even thought of making it fish or seafood. Joining Fish Friday Foodie - is pushing me to venture into different cuisines with fish and seafood, I am loving it. Thanks Caroline for hosting this event and choosing such a wonderful theme.

This group is a brain child of Wendy , if you wish to join this group,  kindly send her an email, with your blog url at (wendyklik1517@gmail.com)   and she will gladly add you to the group.

Since my hubby is out on a trip for two days who hates the smell of fish and never touches it, by the way he is a pure vegetarian ... so you can understand.  Causally told  my daughter today  shrimp pasta for lunch, she had a very funny expression on her face. When she had it for lunch she looked at me, Ma this is tasting good, happy me..... Packed a container for my friend whose family also enjoyed this, sent me a message, yummy..

Here are the ingredients for the delicious dish...

Serves 4 - 5

Ingredients

To marinate the Shrimps

200 Grams Cleaned Shrimps
1 Teaspoon Lime juice
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Other Ingredients

1 Medium onion - finely chopped
4 Cloves Garlic - minced
1 Medium Carrot - peeled and finely chopped
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
2 Tablespoons Tomato paste
4 -5 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
A few Basil leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika powder
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper powder
500 Grams Ripe Tomatoes - finely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh Parsley - chopped
1 Teaspoon Sugar

1 Small cube Fish seasoning

Salt to taste

300 Grams Tagliatelle Pasta- home made

1 Small Capsicum - sliced for garnishing

Method

Marinate the shrimps with salt, pepper powder and paprika powder keep it in the refrigerator, till ready to use.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan, then add the garlic, onion, carrot,  saute till the garlic releases an aroma. Cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.  Now add the tomatoes, 2 cups  water, parsley, thyme, a few basil leaves and sugar. Bring the sauce to the boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.   Then add the tomato paste fish cube seasoning,  salt, freshly ground black pepper and paprika. Let the sauce thicken, if the sauce becomes too thick, add ½–¾ cup extra water until the required consistency is reached. 

This the home made pasta drying... check the recipe here, used the same dough.

In the meantime, add the tagliatelle pasta to a large pan of rapidly boiling water and cook until al dente . Drain thoroughly in a colander and oil it well with olive oil.  Keep aside.

In a another large pan heat a tablespoon of olive oil,  add the shrimps and capsicum toss on high flame till shrimps are done for about 4 - 5 minutes,  pour about two-thirds of the sauce,   add pasta and gently toss until combined.  Add some fresh thyme, basil and parsely, toss again .  Serve  hot with a spoon of sauce on it ... and enjoy....

Labels : Fish, Fish Friday, Italy, Pasta & Noodles, Jams & Sauces

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