From your Blogs # 6 ~ Cooking with Nags!!

For me,one of the biggest joys of blogging is,when someone tries out a dish from the blog and likes it.More so,if the person is a blogger-blogs about it.Few weeks back,I was in Kerala attending a cousin’s wedding.I was introduced to someone from my cousin's family and while we were talking,she said she checks out my blog quite often.I was dumbstruck with a wide open jaw;).I just couldn’t hide my astonishment and rest of the day saw me smiling and giggling all the while.I guess that’s the power of blogging!!

Since last 2-3 months,I’ve not been been blogging quite regularly.Reasons being,a)Lazy b)I was travelling and out of station,c)Lazy,d)I fell sick,e)Lazy..you get the picture don’t you:).But hey,everyone goes through that phase na..c’mon I need those assured nods;).I haven’t been cooking anything new too,just the same old stuff.So that’s another reason.I knew I had to pull up my socks when I got mails and sms’s from friends asking me why there were no updates.It does feel good when someone makes you feel wanted!!

I’ve been trying out several recipes from your blogs,but today its exclusively a post with dishes I’ve tried out from Nags’ blog.I’m sure many of you have tried out her recipes since her dishes are always quite simple and do-able.I hopped on to her blog through her sis Bharathy and I was hooked.I love her no-nonsense posts and now her step-by-step recipe series,which actually made me try out those recipes.I still have bookmarked so many recipes,but for now I’ve chosen these..

Simple White Bread – As much as I would have loved to flick the title from this post,I stick with the original name:).I am at a loss as to describe how it was..I think more than the taste or looks,I was more happy about the fact that the wonderful smell in the kitchen of fresh bread baking was thanks to her….:).I was literally jumping with joy.I baked my first bread loaf..yippee!!!

Pumpkin Erissery – I had bookmarked this recipe when she posted it and was in love with the cute pumpkins.I don’t think anyone could have made pumpkins look so pretty and cute other than her and I think I told her that too:).We make a similar curry called Alchikeri[note the similarity?!] which is one of my favorites.I loved this one too and have made it a couple of times ever since!!

Spicy baby potatoes – She says she flicked it from her sisters blog and me..I have flicked it from hers.And let me tell you,its worth flicking;).A great side dish with dal or sambhar,the baby potatoes surely won me over!!

Butterscotch Blondies – I was in love with this at first sight.Taking step by step pictures while cooking it on your own is not my forte and I am in awe with those who do it effortlessly:).The moment I purchased those cute butterscotch chips,I decided to make this one.Only thing,I substituted the brown sugar with regular white sugar and some of the blondies got stuck to the pan and refused to come out looking pretty.They tasted great though,prompting me and hubby to name them – Butterscotch Crumble!!

Eggless Chocolate Melting Moments – I have no words to describe this beauty,I would just say-truly delicious and yeah,best for gifting.I’m sure it would make people[to whom you are gifting it to] think you are a domestic-baking Goddess:).

And now last but not the least – Stuffed Gobi Paratha – Another one in the step by step category.I had planned to make this long back when she said making it was an easy peasy job.But you know how much I’m scared of stuffed parathas.I have nightmares that the stuffing would come out while rolling and that’s why I kept delaying it.I pulled up my socks and attempted it finally…this one got a 11/10 from hubby,the icing on the cake being his comment that he liked it better than the Aloo paratha..now now that’s one compliment I treasure!!

I have also tried out her Carrot Rice,the pic I'm not able to find from the files now.Also her Ghee Roasted bananas for MBP-Event.

Recipes I'm planning to try out - Vanilla Pound Cake,Marie Biscuit Chocolate Logs,Puliogare and Easy Broccoli Soup.Also the Rich dark Chocolate Cake,only if it was in Cup measures than grams:)

Thank you Nags,for these wonderful recipes!!I would surely make these again!!

And thank you for those wonderful tips on Food Photography.I have benefited a lot from it,though its not quite visible from the pics I take..still;)

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Coffee Cake with Coffee Buttercream Icing

One thing I always check while going through a new blog or cooking site is the baked goodies/cakes section.I jot down recipes which sound appealing to me[almost 90% of them do;)].My recipe book is over flowing with recipes now,mainly baked goodies since I never know when baking bug would hit me and I’ll have to rush to the kitchen,and not let the thought of logging on to the net and searching for the recipe deter my spirits.

I had bookmarked and written down Deeba’s Coffee Mocha Gateau long back and every time I set out to make it,I develop cold feet[yeah,that happens when you decide to attempt Deeba-the Passionate Baker’s recipes].I felt I wasn’t yet ready for it,but I badly wanted to try out a Coffee flavored cake.I remembered my Vanni’s[co-sis] recipe which she had given to me long back while I was trying out Microwave recipes.I tried it out with a few changes.This one is in fact a MW cake recipe,but here,I have baked it in the convection mode.

A wonderful cake with a subtle coffee flavor,it was liked by all.Perfect for that coffee craving and I’m sure it would taste great with a cup of piping hot coffee.It can be made without icing too.So what are you waiting for..??:)

Coffee Cake with Coffee Buttercream Icing

Ingredients

Flour/Maida – 1 cup
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Brown sugar – ¾ cup[I used regular white sugar]
Butter,softened – ¾ cup
Instant Coffee powder – 3 tbsp [I used little less than 2 tbsp-increase/decrease according to your taste]
Boiling water – 1 tbsp
Eggs - 2
Vanilla essence – 2 tsp
Milk – ¼ cup

Method

Preheat oven to 180*C.
Grease and line an 8’ round cake tin.
Sift together maida and baking powder twice and keep aside.
Mix together coffee powder and boiling water.
Cream the butter and sugar till fluffy.
Add the eggs one by one,beating well all the while.
Add vanilla essence and beat well.
Alternately add the flour and milk to the mix,beginning and ending with flour.
Pour into the greased cake tin and bake for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack.

Microwave instructions - MW on 80% for 8 minutes.

Coffee Buttercream Icing

Softened butter – ½ cup
Icing sugar – 2 cups
Instant coffee powder – 1 tbsp
Boiling water – 1 tbsp

Cream together butter and icing sugar till soft and creamy.
Mix together coffee powder and boiling water.
Add it to the butter-sugar mix and beat well.
Keep aside in the refrigerator or a few minutes.
Spread on the cool cake and serve!!

I sprinkled some grated chocolate on top--for me,a cake without chocolate is kind of incomplete..so..:)

Sending this across to Birthday-baby Ria,who is celebrating Cakes,Cookies and Cocktails in her blog:).

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Strawberry Granita

Last week,during our regular veggie shopping,we saw a small stall called Tropical snow outside the shop and decided to check it out.It turned out to be a flavoured-shaved-ice stall,in short-something like candy or ice-stick,as it is commonly known.One spoon into it and so many memories came juggling into my mind.I’ve always loved ice-candy and still prefer it to a dollop of ice-cream.Maybe it’s the child-like feeling that draws me to it,I do get transported back into childhood with a single lick;)

Some time back,I had written down a recipe for Strawberry Granita from one of the cookery shows on Tv.I have never tasted a granita,but the end product they showed looked quite similar to a melted ice-candy.Since it was made using Strawberry crush*,the recipe was quite an easy one.I decided to make it when the temperature soared to 42*C and Chennaites were left to the mercy of the SunGod!!

Strawberry Granita

Ingredients

Strawberry Crush – 2 tbsp
Ice cubes – 10-12
Powdered sugar – 1 tbsp

Method

In the small jar[Chutney jar] of your mixer,add all the ingredients together and grind till the ice cubes get crushed and everything is mixed well.
Serve immediately!!

Isn’t that an easy-peasy recipe??

Sending this across to Happy Cook for her Strawberry Feast.

*Strawberry crush is a squash like thingy made of strawberry extracts.It can be mixed with water or milk for a refreshing drink.

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