Cashew nut Cookies

Designer serving bowl is Diwali gift from Axis Bank

Cashew nut cookies

Makes: 18 cookies

You will need

150 g cashew nuts
135 g sugar
1 egg white
2 tablespoon ( 30 g ) all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon butter

Method

Sift all purpose flour and baking powder.

Powder cashew nuts and sugar separately.

Pre heat oven at 170 * C or 325 * F.

In a bowl, mix cashew nut powder, powdered sugar, egg white and sifted all purpose flour.

Make a soft dough with the above ingredients.

Divide this dough into 18 portions and make into desired shape and size.

Grease baking tray with 1/2 teaspoon butter.

Place each cookie 1 - inch apart on greased tray and bake at 325 * F or 170 * C for 20 - 25 minutes or till light golden color. Cool a little before removing from pan.

Vegetable Stew

Vegetable stew

Serves: 3

You will need

2 potatoes, medium size
3 onions, medium size
2 teaspoon oil
2 green chillies, slit lengthwise
1 - inch piece ginger, finely sliced
10 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 spring curry leaves
1 packet Maggi coconut milk powder (25 g )
1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

If using homemade coconut milk- Mix 75 ml thick and 150 ml thin milk coconut milk and keep aside.

If using Maggi coconut powder - Mix 225 ml water and 25 g Maggi coconut milk powder (Price Rs15/ packet). Stir well and make a fine coconut milk.

Cut potatoes into cubes. Boil potatoes and keep aside. Or Microwave high for 6 minutes with 1/2 cup water.

Cut onion into cubes and separate different layer of onions.

In a wide pan, heat 2 teaspoon oil on a medium heat. Add onion and fry till light pink color ( 3 - 4 minutes ).

Add green chilli, curry leaves , garlic and sliced ginger. Saute for 2 - 3 minutes.

Add boiled potatoes, salt to taste and diluted coconut milk ( Maggi or homemade ). Mix all the ingredients well.

Cover with a lid and cook on a low heat for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Serve this delicious stew with Appam and Idiyappam ( sevai ).

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Homemade Rich Fruit Cake

Homemade Rich Fruit Cake

Basic recipe credit - Mrs. Usha Gopinath ( Ushakka )

Ingredients

130 g all purpose flour ( maida )
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
80 ml rum
2 eggs
110 g powdered sugar
115 g butter
30 ml ( 2 tablespoon ) caramel sugar
30 g cashew nuts, broken
30 g raisins
30 g orange peel
30 g cherry
30 g tutti - fruity ( or any other fruits like golden raisins, dates, prunes, figs.. )
1/2 teaspoon spice powder ( make a powder of small piece of nut meg, 2 cloves, 2 cardamom and 1/4 - inch piece cinnamon with 1/4 teaspoon sugar )
1/4 cup flour for dusting fruits
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 teaspoon extra butter ( for greasing baking pan )
1 tablespoon extra flour dusting ( baking dish )
Extra 8 cashew nuts ( split ) for decoration
Extra 1 tablespoon rum ( for final coating )

How To Caramelize Sugar ?

Short method - Heat a heavy bottomed kadai on a medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sugar. When it melts, color changes from yellow to dark brown. Switch off the heat . Add 3 tablespoon extra water and mix well. Maintain a safe distance from the gas stove when mixing with water.

Method

Dust fruits ( cashew nuts, raisins, cherry, tutti fruity & orange peel ) with 1/4 cup flour and keep aside in a separate container for 1 hour.

Grease baking dish with 2 teaspoon butter and dust with 1 tablespoon flour ( sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of flour inside a cake pan and shake to coat all greased surface. Turn pan upside down to tap out the excess flour ).

Pre heat oven at 170 * C or 325 * F.

Sieve flour, baking powder and salt.

In a big bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add egg one by one and beat until smooth and creamy.

Gently add dusted fruits ( do not add leftover flour ), rum and spice powder. Mix it well slowly.

Add vanilla essence. Gently fold sieved flour mixture. Stir slowly till blended. Add caramelized sugar and mix gently.

Final procedure:

Transfer this cake mixture to a greased baking pan ( or paper lined ). Spread evenly with a spatula, decorate with nuts ( optional ) - arrange gently and do not disturb the cake batter and bake at 170 * C or 325 * F for 50 minutes or till golden brown or till a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Remove from the oven, apply 1 tablespoon rum gently with a brush on top and allow to cool ( approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour ). Run a knife round inside of the pan to loosen the cake, and then invert the pan. Cut into desired shape and size.

Fruit Cake

Homemade Fruit Cake

Basic recipe credit - Mrs. Usha Gopinath ( Ushakka )

Ingredients

130 g all purpose flour ( maida )
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon milk
2 eggs
110 g powdered sugar
115 g butter
30 ml ( 2 tablespoon ) caramel sugar
30 g cashew nuts, broken
30 g raisins
30 g orange peel
30 g cherry
30 g tutti - fruity ( or any other fruits like golden raisins, dates, prunes, figs.. )
1/2 teaspoon spice powder ( make a powder of small piece of nut meg, 2 cloves, 2 cardamom and 1/4 - inch piece cinnamon with 1/4 teaspoon sugar )
1/4 cup flour for dusting fruits
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 teaspoon extra butter ( for greasing baking pan )
1 tablespoon extra flour dusting ( baking dish )

How To Caramelize Sugar ?

Short method - Heat a heavy bottomed kadai on a medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sugar. When it melts, color changes from yellow to dark brown. Switch off the heat . Add 3 tablespoon extra water and mix well. Maintain a safe distance from the gas stove when mixing with water.

Method

Dust fruits ( cashew nuts, raisins, cherry, tutti fruity & orange peel ) with 1/4 cup flour and keep aside in a separate container for 1 hour.

Grease baking dish with 2 teaspoon butter and dust with 1 tablespoon flour ( sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of flour inside a cake pan and shake to coat all greased surface. Turn pan upside down to tap out the excess flour ).

Pre heat oven at 170 * C or 325 * F.

Sieve flour, baking powder and salt.

In a big bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add egg one by one and beat until smooth and creamy.

Gently add dusted fruits ( do not add extra flour ) and spice powder. Mix it well slowly.

Add milk and vanilla essence. Gently fold sieved flour mixture. Stir slowly till blended. Add caramelized sugar and mix gently.

Transfer this cake mixture to a greased baking pan ( or paper lined ). Spread evenly with a spatula and bake at 170 * C or 325 * F for 1 hour or till golden brown or till a sewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool ( approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour ). Run a knife round inside of the pan to loosen the cake, and then invert the pan. Cut into desired shape and size.