BANANA RING CAKE

Another cake using banana minus the egg. Banana is very common and consumed in almost every home. It is very nutritious, each banana contains calcium, phosphorus , potassium which are needed for the bones and low in sodium, cholesterol and fat. Bananas are also rich source of Vitamin C, iron and soluble fibre which helps lower cholesterol.

Not only this banana cake is so simple and easy to prepare but moist, aromatic and full of natural goodness! If you're allergic to nuts do omit them but they  add flavor and texture to the cake.

BANANA RING CAKE

1 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 C melted butter
3/4 C  milk
3/4 C sugar
3 medium banana mashed
1/4 C chocolate chip
1/4 C chopped nut

METHOD

*  Preheat oven @ 175 C. Grease the ring pan.

*  Sift flour, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Add in sugar, mix well.

*  In small bowl, combine milk, butter and banana, stir until well incorporated.

*  Add milk mixture to the flour, stir and add in the chocolate chip and chopped nut. Stir until well combined.

*  Pour into ring pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

*  After 5 minutes, remove on rack to cool. Slice to serve.

CHOCOLATE BREAD

There is nothing more comforting on a cold day than pulling a fresh baked bread from the oven. I just can't resist baking  them be it just plain or sweet bread.

After searching for chocolate bread on net, decided the bake this bread with slight modification from the original recipe. Used all purpose flour instead of bread flour and increased the amount of butter to 2 tablespoons. Despite these changes the bread turned fantastic. I just love the texture and taste. It is great with hot coffee of chai.

CHOCOLATE BREAD
Yield  :   One loaf

2 1/4 C bread flour
1 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 C warm water
1/2 C plus 2 T warm milk
3 T unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
2 T melted butter
1/4 chocolate chip
1/4 c sugar

METHOD

*  Combine yeast, warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl. Let sit for 10 minutes or until frothy.

*  Place 1 1/4 cup flour, sugar, salt, butter, cocoa, yeast mixture and milk in a mixer. Beat until well blended using medium speed. Add in remaining flour.

* On floured board, knead dough until elastic about 10 minutes. Add in chocolate chip during last 2 minutes.

*  Place dough in an oiled bowl and covered for 1 hour.

*  Punch dough down, knead lightly and roll out dough  into rectangle. Roll up dough, jelly roll style, pinch ends to seal and seam side down in a greased loaf pan. Let rise 45 minutes.

*  Bake 30 minutes in a preheated oven @ 170 C.  Transfer and cool on rack.

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PASTA UPMA

Upma is a common breakfast dish or an evening tiffin in most South Indian homes. You can use rava, vermicelli or even bread for making this tasty upma. For added taste, some add vegetables like beans, carrots, potatoes or cauliflower and garnished with cashew nut, peanut or coconut..

It is fast to cook and taste yummy. Adding lemon juice is optional and it is really healthy and an excellent dish to start your day.

PASTA UPMA

100g pasta boiled until aldente
1 onion chopped
2 green chili sliced
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp bengal gram
1 sprig curry leaves
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
salt to taste
3 T tomato sauce
2 T cooking oil
lemon juice (optional)

METHOD

* Heat the oil, splutter mustard seed, add urad dal, bengal gram, curry leaves, onion and green chili, cook until fragrant.

* Add in 1/4 cup water, salt and tomato sauce and bring to boil.

* Pour in the cooked pasta and stir well. Remove from heat.

* Garnish with coriander leaves and serve immediately.

COCONUT CAKE

Using only 6 ingredients, it is the simplest and easiest cake to prepare. You do not need any mixer but only one mixing bowl. If you are using fresh grated coconut, dry roast them until slightly dry. You can also use self raising flour, if you do, please omit baking powder and salt.

This is also my son's favorite cake, if he wants a dessert, this is what he requested me to bake. He brought them to his office and shared them with his colleagues. Most of his friends loved it and even ask for the recipe.

So easy to put together , when you are craving for a slice of cake and you want it sooner. Before you know it, the wonderful smell of amazing cake is sifting through your window. The texture was just lovely!

I am not much of an icing person but you can go ahead to apply any frosting of your choice to elevate  this cake to a heavenly dimension.

COCONUT CAKE
Makes 7 in cake

1 C all purpose flour
3/4 C sugar
1 C  dessicated coconut
3/4 C milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

C  =  cup

METHOD

* Preheat oven @ 175 C. Grease 7 in cake pan. Sift flour and baking powder.

* Add in sugar, salt and coconut. Pour in milk and mix until batter is smooth.

* Pour into greased  cake  pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

* Cool on pan 10 minutes, transfer onto rack to cool.

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NOODLE W/SWEET & SOUR SAUCE

This is a perfect sauce to be taken with noodle. You can add a variety of ingredients to the finished sauce to create a completely different dish. I'm using fresh yellow noodle, just blanch for 1-2 minutes in a pot of boiling water. If you're using dry noodle, please prepare them  according to the package instruction. Any type of pasta works well too.

There are several ways to cook this dish. One method is to boil the meat until soft, retaining the stock before you start cooking. Either way you choose, it turns out great and flavorful. The thickness of the soup is up to you, add less water for a thicker sauce.

NOODLE W/SWEET & SOUR SAUCE
Serves 4-6

500g fresh yellow noodle blanch and drain
2 big onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 in ginger chopped
2 T chili paste
2 tomato chopped
500g sliced beef
250g carrot or other vegetable
3 T tomato sauce
2 T chili sauce
salt and sugar to taste
6 cups water
coriander leaves
red/green chili for garnish
3 T oil

METHOD

* Heat the oil, fry the onion, garlic, chili paste and ginger until fragrant Add tomato, cook until tomato turns soft.

* Add in sliced beef, stir for 1 minutes then add the required water, simmer until beef turns soft.

* Pour in tomato sauce, chili sauce, salt and sugar, bring to boil again.

* Now add the vegetable., once the vegetable  is cooked, remove from heat.

* To serve, place noodle in a small bowl, pour the gravy and sprinkle with coriander leaves and sliced red/green chili..