Wholewheat Beetroot and Chocolate Cake

Yes , I know Indulgence is a Sin but who doesn't commit a sin when there is involvement of CHOCOLATE.

 Atleast I can't be manacled or should I say,I can be wheedled into doing almost anything for that last piece of scrumptious Chocolate cake.

But after delivering a harangue over HEALTHY EATING, I had to add some twists to make it less SINFUL...😉😉
    We all know that Beetroots are healthy.They can actually BEAT the roots of many diseases.They help in relieving Arthritis,cleansing the liver,combating Anemia, warding off Cancer,curing digestional disorders and preventing heart diseases. They have a pigment BETALAIN which is  Anti inflammatory ,Anti Cancer and aids in detoxifying the body.

    So I decided upon baking @NigellaLawson's Beetroot and Chocolate cake but I switched to wholewheat, Brown Sugar and Olive oil for a healthier version.

                       Ingredients:

175 gms. Wholewheat flour
2 tsp Baking powder
75 gms Cocoa powder
250 gms. Brown Sugar (Powdered)

3 Eggs (at room temperature )
250 gms. Beetroot (peeled,chopped and pureed)
200 ml Olive oil

                      Directions:
1: Preheat oven at 180 degree Celsius.
2: Grease and line 9 " Springbottom pan.
3: Sift whole wheat flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and sugar in a bowl.
4: Blend beetroot to make fine puree.
5: Add eggs and oil and blend it nicely.
6: Fold this mixture into whole wheat mix.

7: Pour into spring bottom pan and bake for 45 minutes.
8: Let it cool down and release from pan.
9: Pour chocolate ganache or have it as it is. (I slathered a liberal amount of Nutella over it)

Rose infused Chai Ice Cream

The quietude while reading morning newspaper with a cup of tea in hand or the camaraderie it sets between family and friends is not ambiguous. 

I still feel chatting over a cup of tea or coffee is far better than sitting alone with your gadgets.

My husband loves tea and whatever time it maybe, you pop up the question if he wants to have tea ; the answer would be banal.

The smile at my acquiescence to make tea for him on late nights is priceless. Though he doesn't have a sweet tooth, he loves to have Ice cream at times.

So this time , I gave my man ample reason to be happy and satiate his taste buds.

I mixed his Chai and dessert and came out with this delicious CHAI ICE CREAM. ..

Ingredients :

2 1/2 cup Milk (Full Cream)

1 cup Cream (I used Amul)

3/4 cup Powdered Brown Sugar

1/3 tsp Salt 

2 1/2 tbsp Cornflour

1/3 tsp Rose white tea

1 cup Water

3 tsp Darjeeling Tea

1" Cinnamon stick

3/4 tsp Fennel seeds

8-12 Black Peppercorns

3/4 tsp Cardamom Powder

DIRECTIONS:

1: Boil water and add tea, cinnamon, fennel seeds, Cardamom powder along with pepper corns.

2: Boil further till its half in quantity. Add 1/3 tsp Rose tea in it and let it steep for 3-4 minutes.Strain it.Add Cornflour in half of this concentrate. And stir nicely.

3:In a saucepan,  add milk, cream , brown sugar ,salt and rest of Chai concentrate. 

4: Simmer it and when it comes to a steady simmer , stir it with a whisk. Simmer it for another 5_6 minutes; stirring it with a whisk all the time.

5: Lower the flame and add Chai concentrate (one with cornflour)

6: Cook on medium heat for 2 more minutes while stirring it.

7: Remove from heat and strain it in a big vessel.

8: Keep the vessel in Ice Bath (lots of ice in water in a big shallow vessel)and keep on stirring till it becomes cold.

9: Pour it in Ice cream container and freeze it till set.

                                  ENJOY!!

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart

Ingredients :

25 Nos. Oreos
100 gms. Butter (at room temperature)
1 Cup Sugar
90 Gms(6 tbsp) Butter
100 ml Cream (I used Amul)

1/4 tsp Salt
150 gms Chocolate
100 ml Cream

                   Directions:
1: Blend Oreos in a blender.
2: Add butter and mix it properly.
3: Line a 6" Pie mould with this mixture.
4: Press it tightly.
5: Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
6: Heat sugar in a thick bottom pan and keep on stirring it so that it doesn't burn.

7: When it's completely melted and golden brown in color, lower the heatand add butter. Give it a nice swirl with a spatula till it mixes properly.

8: Pour cream and give it a nice whisk.
9: Add 1/4 tsp salt and mix.
10: Let it cool down. Spread it over cold Chocolate mix.
11: Refrigerate for half an hour.
12: Heat water in a saucepan and melt chocolate in double boiler.

13: Heat cream on low flame .Don't let it boil.
14: Pour it over chocolate and mix it thoroughly.
15: Pour over caramel and refrigerate it till its set.
16: Remove from the Pie mould and serve.

Paneer Butter Masala

 Butter Masala or Paneer Makhani is a dish with Paneer cubes dunked in a spicy tomato gravy which is cooked in butter.

Often eaten with Rice or Paranthas, it has its hold in every Punjabi family and in restaurants all over North India.

       This is one dish which is full of flavors and can give Butter Chicken a run for its money.

               

Ingredients :

500 gms. Cottage cheese ( cubes)
2 tsp Oil
1 tsp  Ginger paste
1 tsp Garlic paste
1 tsp Cumin seeds
2 Onions' Slices

500 gms. Cottage cheese ( cubes)
 2 Tomatoes (chopped)
1 Cup Tomato Puree
 1 No. Cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp  Black Cardamom Powder
 1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder

4 tbsp  Butter
 1 tsp  Honey
  2 tsp  Tomato ketchup
 1 tsp   Salt
  3/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1/2 tsp Degi Mirch

3 tsp Kasoori methi (roasted)

1 cup Water
2 tbsp  Cream
2 tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves ( for garnishing)

Directions:
1: Heat oil in a wok.
2: Add ginger- garlic paste.  Cook for 2 minutes.
3: Add cumin seeds and when it crackles, add onion slices .
4: Cook till its golden brown in color.
5: Add chopped tomatoes and cook till it leaves oil.
6: Let it cool down and grind to a smooth paste.

             

7: Heat butter in a skillet and add cinnamon stick, black Cardamom powder and Cardamom powder.
8: Add ground paste.
9: Cook for a minute and add tomato puree.
10: Add honey,  ketchup , salt, degi mirch and red chilli powder.
11: Crush Kasoori methi with fingers and add to the gravy.
12: Add water and boil it till the gravy thickens.
13: Add cottage cheese cubes.
14 :Let it boil for 2 minutes.
15: Let it cool down and add cream.

Potato and Corn Seekh

                                                              
                                                                Ingredients :

9 Boiled Potatoes

1 cup Corn + 1 cup Corn

2 Lemons ' juice

Salt, to taste

3/4 tsp Red Chilli powder

1 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder

1 tsp Chaat Masala

4 tbsp Gramflour

1 Green Chilli (chopped)

Oil for shallow frying

 Directions:

1: Grind 1 cup Corn to a coarse paste.

2: In a bowl, add boiled potatoes along with rest of the ingredients,  except oil.

3: Mash them nicely to mix.

4: Take satay stick and a ball size mixture in other hand.

5: Roll it over satay stick to form a seekh.

6: Grill on a pan and serve with mint sauce.