My household has been a little topsy turvy lately but, we are slowly settling back into life and trying to move on (ha! no pun intended). I haven't tried many new things... cooking has become a chore and baking has found it's place only in words from recipe books and online pages....
Hoping that 2013 doesn't pass me up as fast as 2012 seems to be...
So, here's a couple of recipes my mom shared with me that she got from her friends... we tried them out as well and liked them. The first one is an "Indianized" Carrot Cake... and it's Eggless too. Those who know me well, know that my attempts at making eggless items haven't turned out well... actually, they are less than edible! ;-) So, with my skeptical self, I tried it out. I hope you will give it a try too. :)
The second recipe below is a rice dish, sort of like a pulao. It was great with yogurt or a simple cucumber raita. :) It was new to us and we enjoyed it...good luck!
Eggless Carrot Cake
1 1/2 cups Flour
(A.P. flour, Chapathi flour or Whole Wheat flour are ok)
3/4 - 1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
Cardamom powder - 1/2 - 1 tsp OR to taste
2/3 cup Oil
1 1/2 cups Grated Carrot
1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts
1/2 cup Yogurt - OR Buttermilk
(if you use buttermilk, leave out salt)
1/4 tsp Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir the dry ingredients together first and then add in the wet. The batter will be quite stiff, so it's best to just use your hand. :)
Bake in a 9" X 13" Greased Cake Pan at 350 degrees. Check first at around 25 minutes. It may need more time depending on your oven.
Do the toothpick test and once it comes out clean, the cake is done.
Wait until it cools (if you can...) ;)
Mint and Cilantro Rice
1 tsp. cinnamon (dalchini)^
1 tsp. cloves (lavang)^
2 Cardamom pods (eliache)^
1 tsp. fennel seeds (somph)^
^saute the above in a little oil
a few curry leaves
1 bunch cilantro leaves
1 1/2" piece of ginger, chopped
6 green chilies (to taste or less if you want it milder)
2 onions*
2 cloves of garlic*
1 bunch mint leaves*
*saute the above in oil
1 tsp. cinnamon (dalchini)^
1 tsp. cloves (lavang)^
2 Cardamom pods (eliache)^
1 tsp. fennel seeds (somph)^
^saute the above in a little oil
a few curry leaves
1 bunch cilantro leaves
1 1/2" piece of ginger, chopped
6 green chilies (to taste or less if you want it milder)
2 onions*
2 cloves of garlic*
1 bunch mint leaves*
*saute the above in oil
Transfer all the above ingredients into blender jar, add 1/3 cup coconut and some water and grind into a paste.
In a separate bowl have boiled 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup peas, and 1/2 cup green beans ready. Add those to the paste.
In a separate pan take a little bit of clarified butter (ghee) and a handful of cashews (more if you'd like) :) Fry them until golden brown.
Then add all ingredients into one pan and saute them well. When everything comes together add 1 1/2 cups cooked rice. Add salt to taste. Mix together well.
Enjoy! :)
