Dates Cookies and a Cake (Eggless)

Dates is a regular in my pantry. Though, I just like to eat it as it is, I sometimes chop them and add to my cup of cornflakes or salads. It also is made into milkshakes. Ever since I saw Shilpa's Eggless Dates Cake, I have baked it more than once. It is not only the most popular post in her blog, I think its one of the most tried out recipe in the blogosphere too. There isn't nothing much to go wrong in this cake. Even a beginner can make an attempt without any worries.

Ingredients
Dates - 100 gms /18 nos

Milk - 3/4 cup

Sugar - 3/4 cup

Maida - 1 cup

Oil - 1/2 cup

Baking soda - 1 tspn

Chopped cashew - 1 tblspn (optional)

Method
De seed the dates. Soak the dates in warm milk for an hour. This will make the dates soft and easier to grind. Depending on the type of dates you use, the soaking time can vary. Add sugar to the soaked dates mix and grind them to a fine paste. Add oil to the ground mixture and keep it aside.
Sift maida and baking soda. Slowly stir in the flour to liquid mixture. Add nuts and mix. Transfer to a greased tin and bake in a preheated oven at 190 C for 40 minutes or till a skewer inserted comes out clean.

My next recipe is a dates cookie tried from DK's blog. It was an instant hit. Do visit her blog for the step-by-step pics.

Ingredients

Maida/All purpose flour - 2 cups

Baking powder - 1 1/2 tspn

Butter -4 tblspn

Sugar - 1/4 cup

Chopped dates - 1/3 cup

Milk- 1/3 cup
Melted butter for glaze.

Method
Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Rub in butter to the flour mixture to resemble bread crumbs.
Mix in sugar and chopped dates. Make a well in the centre add milk. Knead to a soft dough. Adjust the quantity of milk since you may not need the full amount of milk. Knead the dough on a floured surface for few seconds. Roll into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into circles or any desired shape. Brush with butter for glaze. (I forgot this part). Bake in a preheated oven at 220 C for 20 minutes or till it rises well and turns golden brown. It was very crisp with a soft inside.

These dates goodies are making to Sunshinemom's FIC-Brown

Peanut Masala Bath

You will not believe how much enthusiasm I had in making this dish. When I read Easycraft's (click here for the recipe)recipe for peanut masala bath, I decided to make it for dinner. I ran to the grocery store just to buy peanuts before dinner time and made it. I have never liked Vangibath made with brinjal or capsicum. But I liked peanut masala bath a lot. It is a nice substitute for veges. Oops I got the name interchanged in the above picture:)

Note: Grind the peanuts finely else your mouth will ache.

Some of my foodie friends know that I tried making Thattai and ended up with a few minor burns on my hand. I am so embarrassed to tell you that I couldn't make out the difference between rice flour and corn flour that day.. Yes! I was actually making thattais using corn flour. When I was kneading the dough, it was so sticky and I thought I had bought a bad quality rice flour. It did not strike me that I was using the wrong flour :) I realised it the next day when I was searching for corn flour in my pantry to make sweet corn soup. Isn't it funny?

Tomatillo(Green Tomato) Kootu

Tomatillos(also called green tomatoes) are cheap and available easily in any grocery store. I love its tangy flavor. This kootu can be made quickly and had with rice or roti.

Ingredients:
To pressure cook:
4-5 small tomatillos(husk should be peeled)
1 green chilli
Moong dhal-1/3 cup
Shredded/frozen coconut-2 tbsp
Hing-a pinch
Turmeric powder-a pinch
Salt

Seasoning:
Oil-1 tsp
Jeera-1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Red chilli-2
Curry leaves-a few

Method:
Pressure cook all of the above ingredients for 2 whistles.
Do the seasoning and simmer the mixture for 2 minutes.
Serve with rice or roti.