Keto Strawberry Microwave Muffin#Improv

This Keto Strawberry Muffin fits perfectly into that sweet spot for a sweet craving. It makes a perfect muffin for quick breakfast or dessert.
This muffin is moist, top it with whipped cream and you have a delicious dessert.
It’s no dissimilar to a mug cake (it is, in fact, a mug cake) and you can make this in your oven or microwave.

Serves 1
Ingredients
30 grams Almond Flour
½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Egg
15 Grams Butter - melted
2 Teaspoons Keto Sweetener
½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
20 Grams Strawberries -1 Big chopped

Method

In a bowl, add in the melted butter (or microwave for 15 seconds to melt it), add the Keto sweetener, vanilla extract, and the egg and give it all a good mix till well combined.

Now add your dry ingredients to the bowl - the almond flour, baking powder and cinnamon powder and mix well.

Add in the chopped strawberries and gently fold through the mixture.  

Grease an microwave proof ramekin with butter and pour in the batter. Top with a couple of strawberries.  Microwave on high for 90 seconds. If a toothpick poked through the center comes out clean, your muffin is done.

Serve warm or chilled, depending on your preference. 

Nutrition Info (Per serving)
Net Carbs: 3g
Carbs: 6g
Fat: 32g
Protein: 13g
Fiber: 3g
Labels: Single Serving, Keto, Low Carb, Microwave, Muffins, Strawberry, Healthy, Sugar Free, Diabetic Friendly, Almond Flour, Improv Cooking Challenge

Improv March 2023 No Sugar Sweets
• Citrus and Mint Salad with Honey Dressing by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Keto Strawberry Microwave Muffin by Sneha's Recipes  

Maggie Noodle & Veggie Cake#SundayFunday

This is a two minute Maggie Noodles made into Maggie Veggies Cake. This is so simple, cheesy and deliciously yummy. Your kids and friends will love this. I took this to a get together with friends and all loved this. You can add whatever veggies you have in the refrigerator, no hard and fast rule in making this.

Ingredients

1/3 Cup Sliced Mushrooms
1/3 Cup Chopped French Beans
1/3 Cup Chopped Baby Corn
1/3 Cup Chopped Carrots
1/3 Cup Each Colored Capsicum - Green Red Yellow - cut into cubes
1 Large Tomato - deseeded & cut into cubed
1 Large Onion - thinly sliced
200 Grams Mushrooms - sliced
5 Cloves Garlic - chopped
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly Flakes
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
½ Teaspoon Mixed Herbs
½ Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt or to taste
½ Cup Fresh Cream
200 Grams Grated Cheese
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Tablespoon Butter
3 Packets (280Grams) Instant Maggie Noodles

Method

Boil the Maggie noodles as per the packet instructions. When they are cooked all moisture evaporates add a teaspoon butter, spice mix,  3 tablespoons cheese and mix well with a fork. Keep aside.

In another large pan heat oil and butter, add the onion and garlic sauté on medium high flame till the onion is translucent, add the mushrooms, beans carrots and baby corn, sauté again on medium high flame till they are nearly done but still crunchy ( do not overcook the veggies). Then add all the seasonings, salt and the colored capsicums. Sauté again for a minute. Add 3 tablespoons of cheese and fresh cream. Mix well. Keep aside.

Grease a loose bottom pan with butter generously ( I used 10" loose bottom pan ). 

Add half of the cooked noodles at the base and press it well and level the base, then top it with just little cheese all the cooked veggies then again cheese 

again remaining cooked noodles then cheese sliced capsicums capsicum in center, for garnishing , then drizzle some fresh cream. 

Bake it in a preheated oven at 180°C for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Labels: Baked, Vegetarian, Cheese, Indian, Appetizer, Main course, Mixed Veggies, Pasta & Noodles, Sunday Funday

• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Beef Chow Fun 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Creamy Irish Whiskey Butter Noodles with Fennel 
• Culinary Cam: Longevity Noodles 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Maggie Noodle & Veggie Cake 
• Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Semolina Soup Noodles 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Vegetarian Drunken Noodles 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Italian Ricotta Cheese, is easy and a flexible recipe which anyone can make at home. Ricotta is a fabulous component of many Italian dessert's, such as cheese cake, cannoli etc.. It is also used in pasta's, pizza's, lasagna, ravioli and so on. Well In India this is very expensive to buy and making it at home is so easy and delicious. I love to have this as a filling for pancakes.

Makes around 350 Grams
Ingredients
2 Liters Full Fat Milk
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Full Fat Yogurt
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Teaspoons White Vinegar - mixed in ¼ cup water

Method 

In a large pan, heat the milk, heavy cream, till it comes the temperature comes to 90°C. Then add in the full fat yogurt, salt, vinegar mixed in water,  gently stir on a low flame and let is heat for 3 -4 minutes, stirring lightly until milk curdles up. Meanwhile take a strainer and cover it with a muslin cloth and place it on top of a deep bowl. 

Once milk curdles up and comes to boil, stir and put off the flame. Strain curdled milk with a strainer having muslin cloth. Do not throw away its water also known as whey (You can use this in soups or to knead dough for making bread), let it drain for 15-20 minutes. Gather muslin cloth and squeeze properly to remove excess water or whey out of it.

Once done keep cheese covered with the cloth and keep a heavy object on top to give it shape of your choice.
Refrigerate and use this within 3-4 days. 

Homemade Ricotta Cheese is ready for which we would pay a hefty sum to buy it.
Labels: Cheese, Homemade, Ricotta, Italian, International Cuisine, Keto, Low Carb

Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce#Foodieextravaganza

Gnudi are little balls which are more or less like a kind of gnocchi; balls are made of spinach and ricotta without any pasta covering them. So, hence the name Naked Ravioli.
These rustic, naked ravioli have a long history, going back to Roman times, and perhaps even much earlier.

For this gnudi, I did not add the whole egg, more the dough is loose the more flour will be required. So use only the yolk, so that the gnudi is soft and succulent (and not hard) after it's cooked. These are very delicate so while adding them to the boiling water, use a slotted spoon to drop each into the pan of boiling water.

Ingredients
For The Gnudi

200 Grams Homemade Ricotta Cheese
1 Large Egg Yolk - only
100 Grams Chopped Spinach
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Roasted Garlic
½ Teaspoon Dried Parsley
½ Teaspoon Dried Basil
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper powder
2 Tablespoons Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch
¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tablespoon Heaped Tapioca Flour/ Starch - for coating
For The Butter Garlic Sauce
2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
1 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Cloves Garlic - finely chopped
1 Wild Garlic - finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Chopped Scallion Greens - for garnishing
½ Teaspoon Salt

Method

Blanch the spinach for a minute in the microwave. Immediately dump it in cold water. Take a muslin cloth and squeeze the spinach of all moisture. In same cloth squeeze the ricotta cheese. 

In a large bowl combine ricotta cheese, spinach, egg yolk, dried parsley, dried basil, black pepper powder, salt, parmesan cheese, garlic mash them all well till well combined. Add the tapioca flour a tablespoon at a time and mash till well combined. Make a nice ball. Leave it aside covered for 5 to 10  minutes.
Take a small pinch and form into a ball.

To Test whether the ball will not disintegrated in water while boiling. 

Heat water in a pan when it comes to a boil add this tiny ball let it cook it it floats to the surface. If it does not break or disintegrated in water then the dough is perfect.

Now that the dough is perfect cover and keep aside for 5 to 10 minutes. Make 9 - 10 equal size balls. Roll them in tapioca flour, shake of any excess flour by rolling it in your hand. Keep all aside.

In the meantime heat a tall pan will water add a ¼ teaspoon salt. When the water comes to a rolling boil, place each gnudi with a slotted spoon gently into the water. Cover the pan with a lid and on medium high flame let them cook till they start to float on top. Once they float to the surface they are done. Remove each gently with slotted spoon and keep them in large plate to come to room temperature.

For The Butter Garlic Sauce

In a pan heat oil and butter, add the chopped garlic and wild garlic, when the garlic starts to brown add in the gnudi and sauté gently turning the sides.

Remove and serve hot garnish with chopped scallion greens.
These were so...ooo delicious. A must try recipe.

Labels: Keto, Low Carb, Gnudi, Ravoili, Pasta & Noodles, Ricotta, Tapioca Flour, Garlic, Spinach, Butter, Gluten free, International Cuisine, Italia, Foodie Extravaganza Party

• Easy Ravioli Lasagna from Food Lust People Love
• Garden Greens-Stuffed Ravioli from Culinary Cam
• Gluten Free Gnudi (Naked Ravioli) In Butter Garlic Sauce from Sneha’s Recipe
• Homemade Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Seafood Ravioli from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Toasted Ravioli from Palatable Pastime

Drumstick Curry In Coconut Sauce - No Onion No Garlic#Sunday Funday

Sudha Menon is known for her books which explore the ambitions, achievements and accomplishments of people from various walks of life through stories narrated by them.

In one of her interviews she talks about her memories of her mother and aunts preparing sumptuous meals using fresh, seasonal produce from their farm, plucking drumsticks from the tree to make sambar and plantains to make a quick ‘thoran’ when unexpected guests dropped in.

Taking inspiration from this, made a  very delicious and yummy drumstick curry in coconut sauce.

Ingredients
250 Gram(4) Drumsticks - cut into 2" pieces
½ Cup Packed Freshly Grated Coconut
4 Green Chillies - chopped or as per your spice level
½ Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
2 Teaspoons Rice or Rice Flour
Salt to taste
For Gravy
3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
A Sprig Curry Leaves
A Pinch Of Asafoetida
A Marble Size Tamarind
1 Teaspoon Palm Sugar

Method 
Soak the tamarind in warm water. 

In a small blender jar add the coconut, green chillies, mustard seeds and rice flour, grind to a very fine paste using little water. Keep aside. 

In a large pot/kadai, heat coconut oil, add the cumin seeds, when they splutter add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Add the drumstick pieces and fry on high flame for 2 minutes, then add the ground paste and mix well. Wash the blender jar with water and add that to the pot, give it a good stir, add salt to taste, cover and cook till the drumstick are cooked. Add hot water to make a thick gravy if necessary.  

Add the tamarind juice and give it good stir, let this come to a rolling boil, add the jaggery and stir. When the jaggery melts, switch off the flame. Drizzle a little coconut oil on top. 

Serve with rice or rotis. Enjoy this delicious curry!! 
Labels: No Onion No Garlic, Drumstick, Vegan, Gluten free, Main course, Vegetarian Curry, Indian

• Basil-Dressed Chicken Salad with Tomatoes from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Drumstick Curry in Coconut Sauce - No Onion No Garlic from Sneha’s Recipe
• Irio, Kenyan Style from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Philly Cheesesteak from Amy’s Cooking Adventures 
• Rosalynn Carter’s Baked Cheese Grits from Food Lust People Love