paint colors

I've received a few requests for the paint colors we've been using:

Kitchen: Hot Cross Buns (American Tradition)

Living Room: Short Grass Prairie (Valspar)

Dairy-Free Brownie

I love naughty desserts and simply feel good to eat something sweet after every dinner which I've no idea why. However, I really concern about the contents especially after I know about baking these years. I read through and experiment many healthy dessert recipes but I don't think my friends or guests would like it although it's healthy. I must admit naughty desserts always win over the healthy desserts. What about you? Well, I would normally serve my family and myself the healthy desserts whereas those naughty desserts would be give away or served during my guests visit then I can have a small bite unless my guests request for a healthy version.
Well, if you're looking for a healthy version and don't mind it's not the real yummy dessert, these dairy free brownie just right for you. It contains no eggs, no butter, using maple syrup and raw sugarcane instead of conventionally refined white sugar, using more whole wheat pasty flour and dried fruits to get a guilt-free of dessert.
You would find the difference of this brownie compare to those classic brownie as the ingredient used are totally different. The special ingredients here is the prune puree replaces most of the fat and add a healthy dose of fiber. However, you would still able to get the fudgy, dense a little gooey and deeply chocolate low fat brownies. Furthermore, the chocolate peanut frosting really boost up the texture which contains with no butter too! Try it and tell me what you think about it, OK!

For the Chocolate Peanut Frosting:

5 tbsp maple syrup

3 tbsp brown rice syrup

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

Dash salt

1/3 cup peanut paste (roast some peanut, take off the skin and blend until a smooth paste)

1 tbsp vanilla extract

For the Super Fudge Low Fat Brownies:

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup plain flour

1 tbsp cornflour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup light natural cane sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

3 tbsp canola oil

1 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup prune puree (Soak with some hot water for 30 minutes and blend to a puree)

2 tbsp water

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

1/3 cup walnuts, toasted, cooled and coarsely chopped (optional)

How I made it:

1. For the frosting, combine the maple syrup and rice syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring a few times. Add the vinegar and simmer 1 minutes.
2. Whisk the cocoa powder slowly into the simmering syrup. Simmer for 2 minutes, whisking frequently until the cocoa is dissolved.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the salt, peanut paste and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth. If you find the mixture is too thick to mix. Blend the mixture in a blender or food processor, adding some water (tablespoon at a time) and blend until you get thick and smooth consistency. If the frosting is too thin, refrigerate it until thickened.
4. For the brownie, place the baking paper into a square baking pan. Preheat the oven to 180'C.
5. Shift the whole wheat flour, plain flour, cornflour, cocoa powder, cane sugar, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt.
6. Whisk oil, maple syrup, prune puree, water and vanilla in a separate bowl until no lumps of prune puree remain and the mixture is well blended. The batter will be thick.
7. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth. Stir the chips and walnut, if using, into the batter.
8. Spread the batter into the prepare pan evenly. Bake for 17 minute, don't over cook it! A tester inserted into the center will be coated with very moist cake. The brownies will firm as they cool.
9. Place the pan on a rack and cool to room temperature. Frost the brownies while they are warm with chocolate peanut frosting. Enjoy a big portion of this guilt-free brownie!

Reference: More great good dairy-free desserts from Fran Costigan

Eggless French Toast

I tried eggless french toast recipe from Trupti's blog sometime back and was very impressed with the results. I have made this snack several times in the last few weeks. I would like you to try it as well.

Ingredients:
Bread-4 slices(each cut into 2 pieces)

Mix the following and make a thick batter:
Rava/Sooji/Semolina-1/2 cup
Yogurt-1/2 cup
Onions chopped-a handful
1/2 Tomato chopped finely
Green chilli chopped
Coriander leaves chopped-1 tbsp
Salt
Turmeric powder-a pinch

Method:
Dip each piece of bread in the batter and coat both the sides. As the batter is thick, you might have to use your hand to place some veggie-yogurt mixture on the bread.
Heat a flat non stick pan. Add 1/2 tsp oil. Place the bread slice gently. Add few drops of oil along the edges. Cook on medium flame for about 3 minutes. Flip the bread and toast the other side for few more minutes until golden brown.
Serve with ketchup.

Note:Do not add water to the batter. The batter should be very thick.

Here are a few pictures taken during our Las Vegas trip.

This is the Strip



Hotel Bellagio and fountain show



Bellagio Lobby



Reminder:Rama Navami on April 3rd, 2009.