Papaya juice

It’s so hot here even in October and Papaya is in season. So, made some refreshing Papaya juice. Kids and hubby liked this simple juice.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes 
Makes : 4 glasses

Ingredients:
Papaya pieces : 2 cups
Sugar : 1/4 cup
Chilled water: 1 1/2 cups
Ice cubes : 1/2 cup

Method:
Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend for 2 minutes or well blend.
Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Donut holes without yeast

Kids are home for Autumn break so, I’ve been making simple and quick snacks for them to munch on. Normally donut holes are made with yeast where these are made without yeast and it’s instant.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes 
Cooking Time: 10 minutes 
Serves : 4-6

Ingredients:
All purpose flour: 1 1/2 cups
Sugar : 1/3 cup
Salt : 1/2 teaspoon
Baking Powder: 2 teaspoons
Ground nutmeg: 1/2 teaspoon
Egg : 1
Milk : 1/2 cup
Unsalted butter: 2 tablespoons
Oil : for deep frying
Powdered Sugar : 1/2 cup

Method:
Take a bowl and add all purpose flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and nutmeg and mix well.
Add in Egg, milk and butter to the dry ingredients and beat well to mix for 3 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan. Take a small ice cream scoop and scoop dough into the oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on medium heat or until the donuts are golden brown.
Take them out and place on a paper towel. Immediately take the donut holes on a plate and dust the powdered sugar and serve hot.
You can add melted chocolate or sugar syrup instead of powdered sugar.

Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake

I love marble cakes as they satisfy the taste buds of many. I wanted to bake a cake for my dear friend for her birthday. She loved my marble cake before but she likes red velvet. So, I thought of mixing her interests and bake a red velvet marble bundt cake.
She was very happy with both the look of it and the taste, and all the kids loved it. My daughter wants me to bake this cake again for her birthday.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time : 1 hour
Makes : 1 - 9" bundt cake.

Ingredients:

Unsalted butter : 1 1/2 cups at room temperature
Sugar : 2 1/2 cups
Eggs : 6 large
All purpose flour: 3 cups
Milk : 3/4 cup
Baking Powder: 1 1/2 teaspoon
Salt : 1/2 teaspoon
Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
Cocoa powder: 1 tablespoon
Red food coloring (powder/liquid) : 1 tablespoon

Method:

Take a large bowl and beat butter until creamy.
Add sugar and beat till the mixture is fluffy.
Add 1 egg at a time and beat until mixed well.
Add all purpose flour and baking powder slowly and beat till the mixture is blended.
Add milk, vanilla extract and beat until the batter is blended.
Take 2 cups of batter into a small bowl, add cocoa powder and food coloring.
Stir with a spatula to mix well.
Pre heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a bundt pan, add a layer of plain batter and top it with a thin layer of red batter. Repeat the process by layering until the batter is finished.
Bake the cake for 1 hour. Let it cool before turning it on to a plate.
Cut into pieces and serve.

Cinnamon Rolls

Fresh hot Cinnamon rolls are just to die for. Kids and I loved the Cinnabon When we lived in US but once we moved to India, couldn’t find anything close to that taste nor texture. So, I decided to do my research and use the recipes to create my own version of Cinnamon rolls which became an instant hit. So, here is the recipe....
Preparation Time: 20 minutes 
Proofing Time : 1+1 hours
Baking Time: 25 minutes 

Ingredients:
For Cinnamon Roll Dough:
Active Dry Yeast : 1 package or 2 1/4 teaspoons
Warm milk : 1 cup
Sugar : 1/2 cup
Melted butter : 1/3 cup
Salt : 1 teaspoon
Eggs : 2 large
All purpose flour: 4 cups
Cinnamon filling :
Brown Sugar : 3/4 cup
Ground Cinnamon : 2 tablespoons
Melted butter: 1/4 cup

Method:
Take 1/2 cup warm milk, 1 teaspoon sugar and yeast in a bowl mix well, cover it and let it proof for 7-10 minutes or until it’s nice and foamy.
Take a large bowl and add sugar, butter, eggs, salt, proofed yeast, 2 cups of flour and beat on 3 speed until a smooth mixture is formed. Add the remaining flour, and form a soft dough. (The dough will be sticky)
Add some flour on your work surface and place the dough on it. Knead until smooth and elastic for about 6-8 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a plastic wrap.
Keep it in a warm place and let it rise to double its size. This should take approximately an hour.
Punch down the down, divide in half. Flour the surface and roll one portion into a 11x8 in. Rectangle. Brush with half of the butter and sprinkle with half of the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture leaving a small edge.
Roll up as shown in the pictures, pinch seam to seal. Cut into 1 inch pieces. Place them in a greased 13x9 inch cake pan, cover with a wet cloth and let it rise for 1 hour.
Repeat the same process with the remaining dough.
Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 20-25minutes or golden brown and cool on wire racks before serving for 5 minutes.
You can use sugar and milk mixture to ice them or cream cheese and sugar powder. Enjoy the hot cinnamon rolls.

Chocolate Cake

This is a simple chocolate cake recipe which is made with buttermilk. My kids are chocoholics and I keep trying new dishes to satisfy their tastebuds. I made this cake for my daughters birthday and not just my kids, their friends and my friends enjoyed it. So, here is the recipe....
Preparation Time : 10 minutes
Baking Time : 35 minutes
Makes : one 9x13 (or) one 10" round cake and 6 cup cakes

Ingredients:
Sugar : 2 cups
All purpose flour : 1 3/4 cups
Unsweetened cocoa powder: 3/4 cup
Baking Powder : 1 1/2 teaspoons
Baking Soda : 1 1/2 teaspoons
Salt : 1 teaspoon
Eggs : 2
Buttermilk : 1 cup
Oil (Vegetable or Canola) : 1/2 cup
Vanilla extract : 1 teaspoon
Boiling water: 1 cup
For Chocolate Frosting :
Salted Butter : 1/2 cup
Milk : 1/3 cup
Unsweetened cocoa powder : 2/3 cup
Powdered Sugar : 3 cups
Vanilla extract : 1 teaspoon
Method:
Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter the baking pan and dust a little flour.
Sift and Stir together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla and beat with a electric mixer for 2 minutes. Add boiled water and mix well with a spatula.
Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
If frosting the cake, let the cake cool off completely.
Mix all ingredients listed under for frosting with a spatula and use it.

Kids Delight - Summer Coolers Announcement

hi friends !

Happy to announce I would be hosting my blogger friend Valli's event : Kids Delight from 15th May -14th June 2017. The theme would be Summer Coolers. 

I'm hosting this Kids Delight with Summer Coolers which is a famous category for both moms and kids.

This event is also accompanied by a giveaway that is self-sponsored. Do read on for more details...  

All bloggers and non-bloggers are welcome to participate.
The Coolers must be kid friendly, tasted and approved by kids.

Focaccia Bread

Focaccia is a popular bread from Italy. This flat bread is very similar in style and texture to the pizza dough.
The bread is usually seasoned with olive oil, herbs, onion, cheese and veggies.
Summer holidays started so giving some cooking classes for kids in our county. Thought them Focaccia and kids loved it.
I served it with some pesto/ extra virgin olive oil with black pepper.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Proofing time : 40 minutes + 20 minutes
Makes : 2 - 13x9 inch breads.

Ingredients:

To make the dough:

All purpose flour: 4 cups or 500 grams
Sugar : 2 teaspoons
Active dry yeast: 25 grams (I used blue bird)
Salt : 1 teaspoon
Dried oregano: 1 teaspoon
Dried basil : 1 teaspoon
Italian seasoning: 1 teaspoon
Red chili flakes : 1 teaspoon (optional)
Olive oil: 3 tablespoons
Water : 1 1/4 cups + 1/2 cup

Toppings:
Olive oil : 1/2 cup
Onion : 2 small sliced thinly
Tomatoes: 2 medium diced
Basil leaves : 1/2 cup
Olives : 3 tablespoons
Shredded mozzarella cheese : 4 tablespoons

Method:

Warm 1/2 cup water in the microwave for 15-20. Add sugar and yeast. Mix well and cover for 7-10 minutes or until it's proofed and double the size.
Take all the dry ingredients listed under dough making, make a well and add proofed yeast, water, olive oil and knead into a soft dough. Cover with a wet cloth and keep aside for 40 minutes.
The dough should double the size, gently punch out the air.
Add 1/4 cup of oil in each pan, divide the dough in half and slowly spread the dough to all corners of the pan by turning the dough couple of times so the oil is coated evenly.
Make deep impressions with your knuckles, cover with wet cloth and proof for another 15 minutes.
Pre heat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take out the dough, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil in each one and add all the toppings.
Bake it for 15 minutes.
Let it cool off for 5-8 minutes and slice into small pieces.
Serve warm with basil pesto or extra virgin olive oil mixed with black pepper.