Fiestaa Potatoes

I made this potatoes for lunch as a side dish for lemon rice. These were one of the many methods I make potatoes for side. I named them Fiestaa potatoes because they looked (??) much similar to the Fiesta potatoes we get in Taco bell in US. I cut down the cheese & sour-cream since I am not a big fan of cheese and I am preparing this for south-indian lunch.

 
Ingredients:
Potatoes - Chopped to 1/

Semolina/Sooji/Rava Pongal - Savory Version

Rava Pongal, another wonderful Breakfast Recipe. The side-effects of having  Normal Pongal(made of Rice and Moongdal) for Breakfast is the Extra Dose of Sleep and Lunch Menu getting postponed to Dinner Menu. :) So, i try avoiding rice and Make it with Burghol/Bulgur, Brown Rice and even with Sooji/Semolina. An easy to make and a damn filling Breakfast.

Check out my other Marathon Buddies Srivalli, Priya Suresh, Jay, Monika, Reva, PJ, Azeema , Ayeesha and Veena.

Ingredients

1 cup Semolina/Sooji

1/2 cup Moong dal

1 green chilli, slitted

1 tsp Pepper Powder

1 tsp cumin Powder

1 inch ginger, grated

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

2 sprigs of curry leaves

2-3 tbsp Ghee

Salt to taste

Chopped  & Roasted Almonds for garnishing

Method

Pressure Moongdal with little turmeric soft. In a Pan, add a tsp of Ghee and Roast the Semolina/Sooji until golden brown. Take care not to burn the Sooji/Semolina.  In a Deep pan, heat a little oil/ghee, toss the cumin seeds, once it is browned add the green chilli and curry leaves.  Let it roast, Now add 2 cups of water. when the water begins to boil, add salt and simmer flame.

Slowly add Sooji/Semolina and Keep Stirring to avoid any lumps. Let the Sooji/Semolina Cook for 5 minutes. By this time, Sooji/Semlina should be completely cooked, now add cooked Moong dal and Mix well.  If the Mixture is completely Dry add anothe 1/2 cup water and Mix well. Let the Pongal Cook for 3-5 minutes in a simmer flame. Add cumin and pepper powder,  Ghee, Mix well. Heat a tbsp of Ghee, Roast the chopped almonds and Pour it over the Sooji/Semolina Pongal. Garnish it with Ginger Juliennes and Serve Hot with Sambhar.
Sending this to Pongal Feast happening @ Kurinji

Eggless Banana Raisin Cake

Today as I walked past my dining table, I noticed 2 ripe bananas. When I went into the kitchen, the cake box was empty. Now you can guess what stuck my mind. Quickly checked my pantry for the availability of the ingredients to bake a cake. Then piled up the counter-top with all the items. Put them all in order and I was all set to bake. This eggless Banana Raisin cake was just a trial method and trust me, the end result was a super moist and perfectly sweetened cake.

Ingredients:
Whole wheat pastry flour - 1/2 cup
All purpose flour - 1/2 cup
Baking Powder - 1 tsp
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
Cocoa powder - 1 tbsp
Flaxseed powder - 2 tsp
Brown Sugar - Packed - 1/2 cup
Nutmeg powder - about 1/2 tsp
Vanilla extract - 2 tsp
Ripe Bananas - 2
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Melted Butter - 3 tbsp
Canola oil - 3 tbsp

Method:

• Peel the bananas and mash them in a bowl and keep them aside.

• In another bowl, add whole wheat flour.

• To this add all purpose flour.

• Then add baking soda and baking powder.

• Add cocoa powder and flaxseed powder.

• Add the packed brown sugar.

• Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp of nutmeg powder.

• Whisk all the dry ingredients.

• To this add the Raisins and mix well.

• Now add the vanilla extract and the mashed bananas.

• Mix all the ingredients well.

• Then add the melted butter and oil. 

• Combine all the ingredients well and make a smooth batter.

• In a cake pan greased with butter, pour the batter and tap the cake pan well to eliminate the air bubbles.

• Preheat the oven to 350⁰F. Place the cake tray in the oven at 350⁰F for about 20 minutes (approx.).

• Once the cake is done, remove from the baking pan by inverting it onto a cooling rack or a foil and allow it to cool.

• Make slices of the cake and serve it either warm or cold.

• Enjoy the eggless banana-raisin cake with your morning coffee or evening tea!!

Notes:

To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick or a fork in the center of the cake while its in the final baking stage(about 15 minutes into the baking cycle). The cake is not done until the toothpick or the fork comes out clean.


Sending this to my first ever participating event - Cooking with Seeds - Flax seeds