Western Desserts

Tea Cake

~ saanjhachullha ~ Leave a comment

Tea cake   Tea Cake sliceTea Cake

Hi friends! This is a simple butter cake that is good with tea or coffee. Easy to make, and very delicious.

Cook time: 50 minutes
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: Approx.40 minutes

Ingredients :

  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 cup Butter (melted)
  • 11/4 cup White sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 cup Milk
  • 1/4 cup Powdered sugar for dusting

Method:
Step1.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 2.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
Step 3.
If the batter is too stiff, a tablespoon or two of milk can be added.
Step 4.
Grease and flour a round pan. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Step 5.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F /175 degrees C Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 6.
Take out the pan from the oven. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack, then turn out onto a plate. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Here are a few things your less-than-perfect cake may be trying to tell you:

  1. Your cake is too dense.
    A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).

Solutions: Make sure you’re using wet measures for wet ingredients and dry measures for dry; check the freshness of your baking soda and powder, and check your oven temp to make sure it’s hot enough. A cake that bakes too slowly takes longer to set and may fall, causing a dense texture.

  1. There are holes and tunnels in your cake.
    Cakes that have holes are problematic, especially if you plan to slice them horizontally. Holes in cakes are caused by improper mixing (generally over-mixing). You can always fill the holes with frosting to cover them up, but of course preventing them in the first place is the better plan.

Solutions: Consider what mixing method you’re using. If you have a recipe that calls for hand-mixing, yet you use a hand blender, you’ll need to mix much less. Standing mixers are incredibly efficient, but will mix your cakes very quickly. Make sure your ingredients (eggs, liquid and dairy) are as close to room temperature as possible to encourage proper mixing.

  1. Your cake is dry.
    The culprits for dry cake are ingredients that absorb moisture, such as flour or other starches, cocoa or any milk solids. A second, and equally damaging culprit, is over-baking.

Solutions: Ensure that you’re measuring your flour properly. To do so, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off evenly. Avoid dipping your measuring cup into the bag as this presses the flour into your cup and you’ll end up with too much flour. Measure cocoa powder the same way. To avoid over baking, there are three indicators that you should look for to determine if your cake is done: The cake should be slightly pulling away from the side of the pan, a cake tester inserted into the deepest part of the cake comes out clean, and the cake should spring back when gently pressed.

  1. Your cake is tough.
    Mixing is a tricky thing when it comes to cakes. You need to find the perfect speed, temperature and duration to form perfectly-sized little air cells to make the ideal texture. Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour.

Solutions: Mix your cake according to the recipe — there is a function to the order in which ingredients are added to create the right texture. As soon as you begin mixing flour with a liquid and a fat, gluten is developed. Gluten is not desirable in cakes, so mix thoroughly but as little as possible. Make sure you’re using the correct flour. If your recipe calls for a cake or pastry flour then an all-purpose flour or bread flour will be too hard, creating a tough crumb.

  1. The cake broke when turned out of pan.
    A cake has gone through a lot over the last 30 minutes, not to mention turning from a liquid to a solid! It needs a minute or two to gain its composure once removed from the oven.

Solutions: Line the bottoms of your pan with parchment paper. Cakes should rest in their pans on a rack for 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. By lining the bottom of the pan you give yourself some added insurance that the cake will slide out after cooling. (Running a sharp knife between the inside of the pan and the cake is a good idea, too.)

  1. The icing is full of crumbs.
    Crumbs are the cake-decorator’s nemesis! They’re inevitable if you build a layer cake and have to split the layers, but there is a fix to minimize these irritating little morsels.

Solution: Do a ‘crumb coat’ when frosting your cake. Whether you’re making the simplest of cakes or the most extravagant of gateaus, put a very thin layer of icing on the cake for starters. This layer glues down the crumbs. Chill the cake until that crumb coat is firm, then continue icing your cake. There shouldn’t be a crumb in sight.

To sum it all up, here are my best cake-making practices:

  1. Always grease the pan and line with parchment.
    2.Allow the oven to fully preheat before putting your cake in.
    3. Bake in the center of the oven unless otherwise specified.
    4. Bake in the size of pan specified, otherwise uneven baking will mean an uneven cake.
    5. Don’t try to double a recipe — cake recipes are more complex than that. Source out a recipe for a larger volume instead.
    6. Use fresh ingredients. Old ingredients taste bad, and old leaveners simply don’t work.
    7. With the exception of spices, don’t substitute ingredients. Especially ones that have structural impact.

Now that you have all those rules…have fun and go bake a cake!

Ref. http://www.chatelaine.com/recipes/cakes-recipes/what-your-cake-is-trying-to-tell-you/

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

 

Banana Bread

~ saanjhachullha ~ Leave a comment

Banana BreadBanana Bread

Hi friends! Here is a simple recipe of delicious Banana bread you will enjoy. Banana bread is a type of bread made from mashed bananas. It is often a moist, sweet, cake-like quick bread; however, there are some banana bread recipes that are traditional-style raised breads.

Total Time: 1 hr 25 min
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hr 10 min
Level: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar (if less sweet required then can take 3/4 cup)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 level tsp baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 3 medium size bananas, ripe
  • 2 eggs

Method:

Step 1.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and Sift all purpose flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda together. Keep aside.

Step 2.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition with wooden spatula, mix in vanilla extract.

Step 3.

In another bowl, mash the bananas well with a fork . Add in the milk and cinnamon, mix well and keep aside.

Step 4.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed  sugar,butter mixture and stir until batter is smooth. Now add flour mix(from step-1) to it. Mixing  until entire flour is absorbed in it.

Step 5.

Now grease the baking dish with butter and dust it with flour.

Step 6.

Pour the prepared mixture into the greased baking dish.

Step 7.

Bake the banana bread in moderately hot oven (approx. 1 hour) till  a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Take out and cool the banana bread for twenty minutes.

Step 8.

Remove it from the baking dish on the wire rack to cool it completely. Serve the slices with ice cream.

Note:Slicing with a bread knife helps to make smooth slices, that aren’t crumbly.

Top Banana Health Benefits :

Bananas also have many amazing health benefits to the body such as:

1. Boosting Energy

Bananas are a great pick-me-up snack because they provide carbohydrate in the form of quick-releasing sugars which your body can use for energy.

 

2. Loaded with Potassium

Bananas are one of the richest sources of potassium in the world, with about 500 mg of potassium per banana. Potassium is another nutrient that is crucial for those who are physically active, but also for everyone else too. Potassium acts as an electrolyte and promotes circulatory health, helps to manage blow flow and hydration levels within the body, and helps oxygen to reach your cells.

Potassium is useful in preventing high blood pressure and decreases the risks for heart disease and strokes because it regulates circulation, sodium, and water retention within the body . Potassium helps to lower high blood pressure because it counteracts the effect of sodium within the blood.

Potassium also assists in the prevention of muscle cramping following exercise and helps you to heal and build muscle. This makes it an important nutrient for anyone who is especially physically active or who is recovering from an injury.

Additionally, the high amount of potassium found in bananas has been correlated with helping to decrease symptoms associated with kidney stones, gout, ADHD,  back pain, headaches, and more.

3. Helps Improve Digestive Health

Each banana contains about 3 grams of fiber, which is roughly 10% of the daily fiber you should be consuming. The fiber in bananas helps to prevent constipation, bloating, and other unwanted digestive symptoms.Dietary fiber also importantly helps you to feel full for longer. Another benefit of banana’s high fiber content? Studies have found that a diet high in dietary fiber is protective against heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke.

Fiber helps to reduce inflammation as it removes waste and toxins from the body, keeping arteries clear from dangerous plague build-up Additionally, bananas are easy to digest and can help prevent cases of diarrhea. This is because of their starches and fiber which can help to bind waste within your digestive tract, while their potassium facilitates in balancing water retention in the gut and keeping you from becoming dehydrated.

Ref. https://draxe.com/banana-nutrition/

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

 

Chocolate sauce

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What chocolate is-
Chocolate is produced from the seeds of the cacao tree, which is native to parts of South America. The nibs at the hearts of the seeds are ground and liquefied into the pure chocolate form, chocolate liquor. The liquor can be separated into its two components, cocoa solids (the non fatty component) and cocoa butter (the fatty part).

Hi friends! Healthy Chocolates, this is how can you use chocolate to add flavor to your foods and drink.Cacao beans are also rich in flavonoids, an excellent antioxidant.This antioxidant content of chocolate helps prevent heart disease, cancer and strokes. When consumed in moderation, thus, chocolates can be a beneficial addition to your diet.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 a tin Condensed milk
  • 1 cup milk
  • 6 tbsp Cocoa
  • 100 gms unsalted butter
  • 150 gms Cashew nuts
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Method:

Step 1.

In a mixing bowl, take milk and Cocoa and mix it well.

Step 2.

Add condensed milk butter and sugar.

Step 3.

In a non stick sauce pan heat the mixture on a medium flame.

Step 4.

Stirring continuously till mixture is thick yet poring consistency and starts looking glossy.

Step 5.

Roast the Cashew nuts , powder coarsely, stir it in to the sauce.

Step 6.

let it stand for ten- fifteen minutes before serving with Ice creams, desserts etc.

Note:

You can add chocolate to any recipe, provided it is in the right texture and consistency. Chocolate is an excellent addition to a fruit salad and adds a great flavor to it. Top your fruit salad with some homemade chocolate sauce and fresh cream to make it a delicious treat. In addition, you can top your desserts with grated chocolate or chocolate shavings to transform their flavor and appearance. You can add a scoop of chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce to your chilled coffee to enhance the flavor and texture of the drink. Chocolate sauce can also be served with milk as hot chocolate, a popular chocolate-based hot beverage. Add chocolate chips to your milkshake recipes to make them delicious and exciting.

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

 

 

Doughnuts

~ saanjhachullha ~ 2 Comments

 Doughnuts

Hi friends! If you are a Doughnut lover, now you can make these yummlicious Doughnuts at home! Doughnuts are usually deep-fried from a flour dough, and typically either ring-shaped or without a hole. Various toppings and flavorings are used for different types, such as sugar, chocolate, or maple glazing.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Fine flour/All purpose flour/maida
  • ½ cup Sugar,powdered
  • 1½ tbsp Vegetable cooking oil
  • 2 level tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp of Salt
  • Oil for deep-frying
  • 1/4 cup Sugar ,powdered to sprinkle on the doughnuts
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder to sprinkle on the doughnuts
  • 2/3 cup Milk

Method:

Step1.

Cream sugar and oil. Sieve All purpose flour/maida, baking powder and salt and add these to the creamed sugar and oil mixture.

Step 2.

Knead these ingredients into a soft dough by adding milk. Cover the dough with a wet cloth and leave for proving for about 15 minutes.

Step 3.

When proved, divide the dough into 10 equal parts. Round off each part. Keep each portion on a rolling board and cut the centre with a cutter.

Step 4.

Deep-fry the doughnut on a medium flame until golden. Drain on paper kitchen towel.

Step 5.

Roll the hot doughnut into a powdered sugar and cinnamon mix. Serve hot.

The Nutritional Value of Doughnuts:

Powdered doughnuts are cakes coated in powdered sugar. In one such doughnut, you can expect 340 calories, with 200 of them coming from fat. There are 22 g of fat, with 10 g being saturated fat. They also have 25 mg of cholesterol, 300 mg of sodium and 38 g of carbohydrates. Powdered doughnuts also contain 13 g of sugar and 4 g of protein, along with 4 percent of suggested daily values of vitamin A, 2 percent of calcium and 6 percent of iron.

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

 

Apple Raisin Pancakes

~ saanjhachullha ~ Leave a comment

Apple raisin pancakes         Apples 1      +  Kishmish raisins

Apple Raisin Pancakes

Hi Friends!Put away the other choices and serve breakfast to the whole family with this simple, tasty and healthy pancake recipe.

Ingredients:

  •  1 cup fine flour / maida
  • 1 level tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 level tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk for making the batter(approx)
  • Olive oil / or any Cooking oil for frying

For filling:

  •  300 gms Apples
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 70 gms Sugar granulated
  • 50 gms Raisins/ Kishmish
  • 1/2 cup walnut kernels, coarsely ground
  • 1/4 cup Water

Method for making the filling:

 Step 1.

 Wash, peel, core, and cut the apples into tiny pieces. keep aside.

Step 2.

Put in a heavy bottom pan apple pieces sugar with water and kishmish / raisins and ground walnuts.

Step 3.

Cook on low heat gently, add cinnamon cook until apples are soft.

Step 4.

Spread on the pancakes & roll up. Serve hot.

Method for making the pancakes:

 Step 1.

Sieve All purpose flour / Maida, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.

Step 2.

Add  milk gradually to the flour mixture, add sugar and make a smooth batter( If any lumps occur, mix well).

Step 3.

 Heat a little cooking medium in a heavy bottom non stick frying pan & spread the cooking medium all over the pan.

Step.4

 Pour a little batter mixture into the pan; spread it evenly in a circular movement with a small ladle . Cook for two three minutes until set.

Step 5.

Free the edges of pancake with the spatula & turn over. Cook the pancake on both sides.

Step 6.

After half a minute or so turn the pancake on to a plate. Spread cooked apple raisins on the pancake, roll up. Serve with custard or honey.

Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavanoids, and dietary fiber. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. This article provides a nutritional profile of the fruit and its possible health benefits.

Note:

Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavanoids, and dietary fiber. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. This article provides a nutritional profile of the fruit and its possible health benefits.

Raisins pack more nutrition than their small size might indicate. When grapes are dehydrated to produce raisins, the nutrients become more concentrated, making a handful of raisins a snack rich in B vitamins, iron and potassium. Besides nutrients, raisins are also a good source of carbohydrates for energy.

Possible health benefits of apples:

Apples contain almost no fat, sodium or cholesterol.

A collection of research studies suggests that apples may well be one of the most healthy foods for you to include in your daily diet. Let’s take a look at the studies and the possible health benefits suggested by them:

  • Improving neurological health- quercetin one of the antioxidants found abundantly in apples
  • Preventing dementia-Including apples in your daily diet may protect neuron cells against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity and may play an important role in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Reducing your risk of stroke
  •  Lowering levels of bad cholesterol
  • Reducing your risk of diabetes-Apples could also help lower your risk of diabetes.
  •  Warding off breast cancer
  •  Obesity-reduces obesity

Ref.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267290.php

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

 

 

 

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Jam Tarts

~ saanjhachullha ~ Leave a comment

Jam Tarts.JPG Apricot Jam tartsTart with Jam 1Jam Tarts

Hi friends! A little of pastry and a bit of jam makes a very fine Jam Tart. We can make them big or small and while delicious as they are, can make them tastier and very good with a small blob of whipped cream or a sprinkling of finely chopped nuts!

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes

Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes

Category: desserts

Ingredients:

  • All purpose flour (maida) 250 gm
  • Butter 100 gm
  • Sugar 5 teaspoons
  • Egg 1 yolk only
  • Baking powder ½ teaspoon
  • Milk ¼ cup
  • Jam of choice for filling the tarts

Method:

Step 1.

Mix sugar, butter and egg yolk.

Step 2.

 Add flour, baking powder and milk and mix nicely. Prepare a smooth dough.

Step 3.

 Divide the dough in 3-4 small portions. Roll each portion to 1/8” thickness.

Step 4.

 With a medium size cookie cutter cut the pastry into smaller pieces and place the pieces in the tart moulds.

Step 5.

 Prick the dough with a fork. Bake at 160 C for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated oven.

Step 6.

 Cool and fill with a teaspoon full of jam and serve.

Note:

  • Can garnish with a dollop of whipped cream or sprinkle with finely chopped nuts.
  • Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:
  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.

Walnut Brownies

~ saanjhachullha ~ Leave a comment

browniesWalnut Brownies

Hi friends!Walnut Brownies are baker’s joy. Walnuts really make the difference to this simple homemade Rich and delicious treat

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4th cup Flour – (sifted)
  • 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4th teaspoon Salt
  • 7 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
  • 1/3rd cup Butter – (melted)
  • 1/4th cup Milk (If necessary)
  • ½ cup Walnuts (chopped)

Method:

 Step1

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder together through a fine sieve thrice and keep aside.

Step 2

Beat sugar, eggs, and vanilla essence and butter together, very well till light and fluffy.

Step 3

Add sifted ingredients a little at a time, beating in at slow speed. If the mixture will not beat because its too thick, beat in cold milk, a table spoon at a time.

Step 4

Fold in chopped nuts.

Step 5

Pour into a greased, floured, brownie pan in a medium oven (350 deg), for 25/30 minutes or till a clean knife inserted into the brownies comes out without the mixture attached.

Step 6

Cut into squares while warm. Allow the brownies to cool.

Note: If you want to keep the brownies moist, keep them in an airtight tin box.

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

  • Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
  • Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
  • Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
  • If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
  • Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.