"Sweet Treats"- White Chocolate Bark with Pistachios,Almonds and Cranberries

I had seen Ina Garten ( Food Network) make this a long time ago. It looked so pretty and yet so easy to make..I had decided to try it out! It was my friend 'A's b'day and I was looking for some 'sweets' to carry along with the gift. This was a perfect thing to carry along ...looked so pretty,tasted delicious with those nuts and cranberries and was 'homemade' after all!

Chocolate Bark--
 According to 'baking bites'  a chocolate bark is- Chocolate bark is actually a sheet of chocolate that is usually covered with nuts, dried fruits, candies or even additional pieces of chocolate. Its is rustic looking in the sense that it is just thrown together, not laid out with a specific pattern to how the ingredients are placed, and it is broken into shards of various sizes to serve. The name “bark” starts to seem much less unusual when you see a box full of chocolate shards that actually do bear a slight resemblance to rough pieces of tree bark – albeit tasty tree bark.

 Recipe-
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/white-chocolate-bark-recipe/index.html
1) I followed Ina Garten's recipe but used toasted Pistachios and almonds and dried cranberries as the additions to the white chocolate.
2) I toasted the nuts in microwave safe plate in the microwave
3) I used vanilla flavored white chocolate waffers as my white chocolate.

Recipe Verdict:
Loved the crunchy toasted nuts with the luscious white chocolate
Pretty easy to make...looks good too!
Will I make it again: Yes for sure!

"Nutritious and Delicious"- A cookie with Goodness- Chocolate Almond Cookies

Want to eat your Cookie and feel good about it too? You are at the right place!! In my mania of ' eating good foods'...here is one more recipe I tried last week.

The cookies came out chocolaty, nutty, fulfilling and tasted delicious.They had a unique texture....not chewy...not crispy...not crumbly either...but  something in between!! You got to try it.Even my picky little 'E' loved those. For him ..I made little 'cupcake cookies' with the same cookie dough.

I call them" A cookie with goodness' because they have- half -whole wheat flour in the recipe, has oat meal, has almonds, flax seed meal....all good for you!

Ingredients: Makes 24 cookies/ cupcake cookies

3/4 cup Whole wheat flour

3/4 cup All purpose flour

1/2cup Oat meal ( pulse quick cooking oats in a mixer and powder them)

1/4 cup Flax seed meal

1/3 cup Almonds finely chopped ( see the white specks in the cookies?..Those are the almonds)

1/4 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup Light brown sugar

1/2cup white sugar

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

5 tbsp butter (room temperature)

1/4cup canola oil

1Egg

1/4tsp salt

1tsp Baking powder

1/2tsp Baking soda

1tsp Vanilla essence

2tsp water

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 325F. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray. If you want to make 'Cupcake cookies'...spray the mini muffin pan with non stick spray.

2)Beat the butter +Eggs+ Sugar.

3) Add all of the above ingredients and mix.

4) Mold into small balls and flatten/ press into mini muffin pans

5) Bake at 325F for 15 mins. Let them cool

6) You can frost the cupcake cookies with 'chocolate butter cream frosting' or other frosting of your choice.

Butter Cream frosting:

1/4 cup room temperature butter

1/2cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2tsp Vanilla essence

Mix together. Add few drops of water to achieve desired consistency

Frost the cookies when cooled

"Appetizers"- Mini 'biscuit' pizzas/ Veggie Focaccia

At times..I love being a "Semi homemade' type cook. I loveee cooking ...but with 2 little ones on hand...I tell you..it gets tough at times!!
I find myself looking for short cuts and easy to make dishes that taste and look good too! Like Sandra Lee (food network) - use some store bought ready -to- use ingredients and cook in minutes!

Here is one such recipe.....I used store bought buttermilk 'Biscuit' Dough as a base for these mini pizzas or Focaccias.

The possibilities for the toppings can be endless but here are a few ideas-
1)Broccoli,Onion and Cheese

2) Tomatoes and Broccoli-

3) Roasted Chicken(I used store bought Rotisserie chicken),Onions and Green peppers

Ingredients:

* For Broccoli-Onion-Cheese topping

1 can Small size buttermilk Biscuit dough

1/2 cup chopped broccoli

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2cup shredded cheese

1/4 cup Ketchup

1tsp Italian herbs

salt and pepper

1/2tsp chili flakes

2tsp olive oil

Method:

1) Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet. Pre heat the oven as directed on the biscuit dough can.

2) Mix the chopped onions,broccoli,herbs,chili flakes,salt and pepper

3) Make a 'well' in the biscuits by pressing fingers in the dough.

4) Spread a tsp of ketchup and place a spoonful of the veggie mixture on top.

5) Bake as directed till golden brown

6) Sprinkle a tsp of Shredded cheese on top.Serve Hot!

"Nutritious and Delicious"- "Fat free" and "Good for you" Chocolate-Banana-Walnut Muffins

Wow...I am really doing this...totally into "Nutritious and Delicious" mode!!! "Fat free" muffins?? Seriously???

Yeah..I had couple bananas sitting in the fruit rack and a trip planned to Chicago for the long weekend. I had to use up the bananas and also make some snack for the kids for the trip.I found this amazing recipe which fell into "Nutritious and Delicious" category of my blog.
http://www.handletheheat.com/2011/04/chocolate-banana-muffins.html
Totally went for it with some modifications...and let me tell ya...you are not going to miss that butter/ oil in those yummyliciously nutritious muffins!
They are so moist with the bananas and apple sauce....And the whole wheat flour,the flax seed meal and the walnuts make them 'good for you'!! The Feel good Indulgence!!

Ingredients:
2 ripe Bananas
4 oz Applesauce
1/2 cup Whole Wheat flour
1/2 cup All purpose flour
1tbsp Flax seed meal
1 Egg
1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa
1/4 cup Dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup Sugar
1tsp Baking powder
1tsp Baking soda
1/4tsp Salt
Few Walnuts chopped

Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 375F. Line the muffin pan with cupcake liners
2) Mash the banana with fork and potato masher.Mix applesauce, egg and sugar with the bananas.
3) Sift all the dry ingredients together.
4) Mix the wet and dry ingredients just till well combined.DO NOT OVERMIX!
5) Fold in the chocolate chips and stir twice.
6) Pour in the muffin pans till 3/4th full. Add few chopped walnuts on top. Makes 12 muffins

7) Bake at 375F for 20 mins.Check with toothpick if properly baked. The toothpick should come out clean.

8) Cool on a rack. Store in airtight container at room temperature for upto 3 days or store in refrigerator.

 You will love indulging yourself into the chocolaty goodness that is so good for you ...they truly are Yummylicously Nutritious!!!

"Nutritious and Delicious"- Homemade Cereal Bars

 With these really 'nutritious' cereal bars....I start the new section in the blog "Nutritious and Delicious".

My friend 'G" is really into eating nutritious,organic and homemade foods. She is a big inspiration for me to get up and make my own whole grain cereal bars and  'Healthy' cookies ( recipe coming soon). All these years M has been taking a cereal bar for breakfast, but never did I think of making one at home!! It was a eye opener the other day....when I met G...who by the way is a 'superwoman'...with so much energy and enthusiasm..you can hardly hold her hand in what all she can accomplish in a day!! Hats off to her!!

Here is the link where I got the idea for this recipe-

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/healthy-fruit-oat-granola-bars-0112

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup Whole grain Quick Oats

1 cup Rice Crispies

1/8 cup Flax Seed meal

1/4 cup each  Nuts -Pistachios,Almonds

1/4 cup Raisins

1/8 cup Dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup Light Brown sugar

1/4 cup White sugar- (you can use all brown sugar instead)

1 tbsp Honey

1 Egg

1tsp Vanilla

1/4tsp Cinnamon

1tbsp Canola Oil

1 tbsp All purpose flour

1/4tsp salt

 * You can add other nuts like walnuts/pecans or fruits like dried cranberries/cherries etc.

Method:
1) Preheat oven to 350F. spread the oats and nuts on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven for 8-10 mins...until slightly toasted. reduce temperature to 325F. Coat a 8*11 inch pan or 9* 9 inch pan with aluminum foil.Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Beat the egg.Mix oil, sugar and all of the above ingredients, stir well.

3) Press the mixture in the coated pan.

4) Bake at 325F for 15- 20 mins ....till slightly golden brown.
5)Let them cool and then cut onto bars with a oiled sharp knife

6) Store in airtight container.Makes 12 bars.

Your own nutritious and delicious -chewy and nutty cereal bar is ready when you want to snack!!!

"Appetizers"- Carrot Masala Bread

Someone please tell me the restaurant that was on the corner of FC Road (Pune) and served this spicy delicious 'masaledar'  Masala Bread....or more so...Masala Pav!!! I am trying to recollect the name of this small restaurant and I am not being able to:(  I  still remember the taste of this buttery spicy masala pav though!! The taste still lingers in my mouth...
Those good old college days...you didn't care where you ate...what you ate.....how much you ate....how many calories it had....how 'dirty' that place was....how often you ate out....you cared for nothing....
All you did was..have fun!!!
Don't you want to revisit that life? I feel like!!

Since, it isn't really possible to go back(unless someone really has a time machine!!)....I am revisiting my college days...by having this Spicy tempting 'buttery' masala pav!!
The original one doesn't have carrots..but to 'up' the nutrition factor and give the masala a little 'crunch' I added some carrots to the mixture.
Ingredients:

8 slices of white bread( use 'pav bhaji' bread for original masala pav. I used whole grain white bread)
1 medium onion chopped
1 medium tomato chopped
1 carrot shredded
2cloves garlic finely chopped
1tsp red chili powder(add more for spicier taste)
1/2tsp garam masala
2tsp ketchup
1/2tsp cumin
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt
oil
butter(amul butter if you have)

Method:
1) In 2tsp oil fry the cumin, onions,garlic till tender. Add the tomatoes and fry till soft.
2) Add  carrots, chili powder,salt,ketchup,garam masala.This mixture should be spicy and little tangy from the tomatoes and ketchup.Add the chopped cilantro and take off the heat.

3) To a slice a bread apply butter.On the other slice apply the carrot masala thinly.Make a sandwich
4) Toast the sandwich on low flame on little butter till golden brown and delicious.

5) Slice into triangles before serving.Serve hot!!!

I am sure you will love this....even my  little "E' and 'A' tried it and loved it (I made it less spicy for them )!

"Pat a Cake"- Eggless Strawberry Cake

"Fresh Strawberries and Cream"...remember that??? I am sure you must have had that in Mahabaleshwar!!! I was thinking on the same lines....

Strawberry cake.....with creamy....Condensed milk! How good will that taste? Sweet Very Berry heaven ..on the plate!!

The only thing missing was ....fresh whipped cream to top the cake...(I didn't have any in the fridge...but you sure remember to top this cake with the whipped cream!!!)

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup All Purpose flour
3/4th cup sugar
1/2tsp salt
1tsp baking soda
1tsp vanilla extract
1/3rd cup Canola oil
1tbsp vinegar (Add just few drops less than 1tbsp.....it prevents that 'vinegar' taste)
1/2 cup Cold water
1/2 cup Sweet Condensed milk
8 fresh strawberries chopped finely and macerated in 4tsp sugar
Some strawberries for garnish
Whipped topping(optional)

Method:
1) Finely cut 8 strawberries into cubes.Add 4tsp sugar.Macerate for 30 mins.

2)Preheat the oven to 350F (preheating is very imp). Grease the 8 inch round pan with vegetable shortening. Apply liberally in all corners.Dust with all purpose flour to coat the pan.
3)First sift flour, sugar separately.Then by a spoon add to the measuring cup to measure exact amounts.Level with a knife.DO NOT pack the flour into the cup.The ratios will change and the cake will not come out as good.
3) Mix wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls. Then mix them together.Add the macerated strawberries.

 4) Mix them together in a single direction.Bubbles will appear as vinegar reacts with baking soda.Do not over- mix.But all the lumps should be gone
5) Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 mins.Do not open the door for first 20 mins atleast.
6) Check with a tooth pick, if the cake is done.The inserted toothpick should come out clean. Cut the cake after cooling.

7) Flip on a serving platter carefully and serve with fresh strawberries and whipped cream topping(optional)