Whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Vegetable oil: 1/4 cup
Ripe bananas: 2 large
Eggs: 2 large
Vanilla essence: 1 tsp.
Baking soda: 1 tsp.
Cocoa powder: 2 tbsp.
Beaten yogurt: 1/2 cup
Walnuts (chopped): according to taste
Pre-heat the oven at 200 C for about 20 minutes while you prepare the mix.
Begin by sieving the whole wheat flour in a big mixing bowl. Sieve in cocoa powder and the baking soda.
Mix everything slowly but really well so that there are no lumps remaining. Keep aside.
In another big mixing bowl, add the sugar. Break the egg in the bowl and beat it well. Do not over mix. I used a hand whisk.
Now add the well mashed bananas and again mix well.
Add the oil, yogurt and vanilla essence. Mix everything slowly with the help of whisk. You can also use the electric mixer.
Slowly begin to add the flour mix to this mix. Add a little at a time and keep on mixing but remember not to over mix. Just mix it until you see no lumps. The mix should be little flowy and not dense.
Fold in the walnuts in the mix. Save some of the walnuts for the base if desired.
Grease the cake mold and sprinkle little walnuts on the base if desired.
Pour in the mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes at 200 C. Then do the toothpick test. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake, it should not have the batter stuck to it, it should come out clean with little crumbles. If not done, bake for a little more time until the toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10-15 minutes.
Invert the pan and remove the cake from the mold in a tray or a plate.
Let cool completely and cut in desired shapes. Enjoy!
Chai! Chai has always been a heaven for me and even though it can be translated as "tea", the tea is quite nowhere around the Indian Chai! Chai from India is a spiced milk tea which is getting increasingly popular throughout the world. I take my Chai very seriously and I can't compromise on a badly-made cup of tea. Indian Chai produces a warming, soothing effect and gives a wonderful sense of fulfillment and well-being. When I'm home from work, all I crave is a hot cup of chai. It is difficult to resist a second cup. Coffee comes nowhere close to my Chai!
I also use a specially made chai-masala or tea spice mix to elevate the flavors of my tea. I have previously shared the recipe of the chai masala. If you missed it, here's the recipe: Chai masala recipe (Tea spice)
So why am I talking about Chai here in a muffin post? That's because for a very long time I have been wanting to add this spiced mix to flour and try baking some goodies with it. I was sure they would turn up good. So this Christmas I finally went along to prepare Chai muffins and amazingly they turned out so good and yummy.. crusty from outside and soft from inside. Do try this recipe and I'm sure you will make it again and again!
Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup
Baking soda: 1 tsp. Chai masala: 3 tsp.
Eggs: 2 large
Yogurt (beaten): 4 tsp.
Cooking oil: 1/4 cup
Vanilla essence: 1 tsp.
Pre-heat the oven to 200° C.
Add the flour to a bowl and add the baking soda to it. Mix well.
Add the spiced tea mix (chai masala) and mix them well. Your dry ingredients are ready. Keep aside.
Now in another bowl add the eggs and the sugar and mix them really well until light and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or an electric mixer.
Add the yogurt and mix well. Add the cooking oil and vanilla essence. Mix everything well until light and frothy.
Now slowly begin to add the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients. Keep mixing slowly.
Add all the mix and mix everything together. The consistency should be a little flowy and not dense. This will make light and fluffy muffins.
Grease the mold and fill upto 3/4 with this mix and immediately put in the oven. I have baked them for Christmas so I used special Christmas mold.
Let bake for 15 minutes and check with a toothpick. If the toothpick is wet then let them be in the oven for 5 more minutes. The outside should be deep brown with a little crust.
When the toothpick has crumbly mix when you do the test that means the muffins are done.
Turn off the oven and take out the tray. Let cool for 10 minutes and remove the muffins.
Cool completely and refrigerate in an air-tight box for up to a week.
Warm for a minute in microwave while serving with tea/coffee.
Banana chocolate muffins are the most favorite in my household and is a mandatory preparation every weekend to prepare and stock for the week to be eaten as tea time snack. This time I was in an experiment mode and wanted to try a different flavor. But hubby wanted to keep the chocolate flavor intact. So made these coffee orange muffins using whole wheat flour. They turned out to be yummy and was a good change for our tea time!
Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Cocoa powder: 1 heaped tbsp.
Coffee: 1 heaped tbsp.
Baking soda: 1/2 tsp.
Orange juice from 2 large oranges
Eggs: 2
Oil: 1/4 cup
Yogurt: 2 tsp.
Orange essence: 1 tsp.
Pre-heat the oven at 200 C for about 20 minutes while you prepare the mix.
Begin by sieving the whole wheat flour in a big mixing bowl. Sieve in cocoa powder, coffee and the baking soda.
Mix everything slowly but really well so that there are no lumps remaining. Keep aside.
In another big mixing bowl, add the sugar. Break the eggs in the bowl and beat it well. Do not over mix. I used a hand whisk.
Now add the orange juice and mix well.
Add the oil, yogurt and the orange essence. Mix everything nicely with the help of whisk. You can also use the electric mixer.
Slowly begin to add the flour mix to this mix. Add a little at a time and keep on mixing but remember not to over mix. Just mix it until you see no lumps. The mix should be little flowy and not dense.
Spray the muffin molds (I used paper molds) with very little oil. Fill in the mixture in all the molds up to half.
Bake for 30 minutes at 200 C. Then do the toothpick test. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the muffin, it should not have the batter stuck to it, it should come out clean with little crumbles. If not done, bake for a little more time until the toothpick comes out clean.
Remove and serve warm with tea. Let cool completely and it can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator in air tight container. Enjoy!
Thanks for reading this. If you loved this recipe, do share this with your friends and please do leave a comment/feedback in the comments section below. Also, don't forget to connect with me on Facebook for more updates!
If you have been following my posts, then you might have read my post about How I took a leap towards baking and the recipe of one-minute chocolate cake. I had always wanted to bake but was always scared to, and finally took the leap on the leap day: 29th of February.
So after I did my first bake, One minute chocolate cake, I was obviously motivated to try my hands on more baking. And I had few over-ripe bananas which nobody was eating. So I decided to use them and bake some muffins using those. I had seen so many recipes left, right and center of cakes, cookies, muffins but they were so many I had no idea which one to follow. So I called up my sister who bakes the best of the goodies and she told me it's really easy and gave me this simple recipe for beginners like me which obviously turned out so yummy I couldn't believe myself that I have ACTUALLY baked something, and something so soft, moist and yummy.
I have been baking these every week ever since and these have turned out to be the perfect tea-time snack and also on-the go snack. They stay good for up to 2 weeks when refrigerated.
So here's the basic simple recipe for these muffins.
Ingredients:
Whole wheat flour: 1 cup
Sugar: 1/2 cup
Cocoa powder: 2 tsp.
Baking soda: 1/2 tsp.
Over ripened bananas: 2
Egg: 1
Oil: 1/4 cup
Yogurt (beaten): 2 tsp.
Vanilla essence: 1 tsp.
Chocolate chips as per requirement
Pre-heat the oven at 200 C for about 20 minutes while you prepare the mix.
Begin by sieving the whole wheat flour in a big mixing bowl. Sieve in cocoa powder and the baking soda.
Mix everything slowly but really well so that there are no lumps remaining. Keep aside.
In another big mixing bowl, add the sugar. Break the egg in the bowl and beat it well. Do not over mix. I used a hand whisk.
Now add the well mashed bananas and again mix well.
Add the oil, yogurt and vanilla essence. Mix everything slowly with the help of whisk. You can also use the electric mixer.
Slowly begin to add the flour mix to this mix. Add a little at a time and keep on mixing but remember not to over mix. Just mix it until you see no lumps. The mix should be little flowy and not dense.
Spray the muffin molds (I used paper molds) with very little oil. Fill in the mixture in all the molds up to half.
Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the forms filled with mixture. I have used small chopped pieces of dark baking chocolate.
Bake for 30 minutes at 200 C. Then do the toothpick test. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the muffin, it should not have the batter stuck to it, it should come out clean with little crumbles. If not done, bake for a little more time until the toothpick comes out clean.
Remove and serve warm with tea. Let cool completely and it can be stored for many days in the refrigerator in air tight container. Enjoy!
Loved this recipe? Do leave your comments/feedbacks in the comments section below and don't forget to join me on Facebook for regular yummy updates.
So this year we were blessed with an extra day in February: the leap day; 29th February. This day comes once in four years so it's very special for me. I try and live this day completely, I always celebrate the 29th of February. I feel this day will never come back again. Technically it does after every four years but then our lives change so much in four years: so much uncertainty, so many challenges and as always life is unpredictable; so nobody of us have got any idea where we would be in next four years. I try to do something extra: something special on this day to celebrate it. Something I love, something just for myself, something I have always wanted to do, anything big or small, or maybe something I haven't got time/opportunity/been convinced enough to do in the last four years. Something new, taking a leap of faith, believing in myself and celebrating, soaring, enjoying. Something that fills up my soul, satisfies me.
So, like every leap day; 29th February, I was totally wanting to do something special. Something to celebrate the day, something for myself, something I haven't done maybe in these four years. I have always been a crazy and creative person and have loved to let my hair down, be crazy, have fun, read, run and dance for fun, get soaked in the rain, draw, paint, write poetry or stories (have published my own book on women empowerment many years ago). But lately I have felt my spirits dulling; I'm losing my creative charm; so wanted to lift back my creative side. I had not decided what I would do until the morning of 29th. I wanted to decide because I wanted to get up and actually do something instead of wasting about in the house.
And then it struck me: I'm going to BAKE! Yes, the one thing in the kitchen that has always scared me was baking. I have always had such a huge phobia of baking I never thought I would do it. I have used my microwave a lot. I have used my oven a lot: I do have made chicken tikka and tandoori chicken in my oven, broil aubergines for Baingan bharta, tandoori roti , made herbal baked potatoes; and much more. So what scares me? It's the baking soda and baking powder. I just, just, just can't use them right. Don't even get me started on how I failed hugely with baking a chocolate cake for hubby's birthday which was just the taste of baking soda in the mouth, more than the chocolate: and I had to trash it. And that was the worst experience ever! I shared the recipe with so many people and most of them told me the recipe was absolutely perfect! I had followed the recipe to the T and still a big fail!! Nope. Baking just isn't for me. Or I'm not made to bake. (Whatever).
It was my birthday in 2014 a dear friend gave me a recipe for a cake to be prepared in microwave. And I just looked away. I told her I don't want to try anymore. I wasn't even hearing. She told me it's quick, it's simple, it's easy to be made in two minutes, in microwave (even no need to use oven). I just ignored. But then I made it my year 2015 resolution to bake. 2015 came and went and I did not bake. I can tell a million reasons why I did not (or could not). But the thing remains: I did not.
So as it stuck me that I was going to bake, I felt immensely happy. And great. And scared. But as I had decided, I just had to take the leap to overcome my fear. And then I dug out the recipe my friend Khanak had given me long time ago. Found the recipe and the ingredients were actually simple; also healthy, whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour. That looks interesting (I said to myself). Just the vanilla essence was missing from the ingredients. I looked out my window: it was cold (-2 degrees) but the sun was shining in the blue skies. Decided to go out to get some fresh air and the vanilla essence for my baking. Went to the grocery and while I was picking up the vanilla essence, I saw a ready mix pack for chocolate cake and I instantly put it in my grocery cart, thinking will prepare this if my cake fails. Then kept it back on the shelf. Picked it again. Kept back again. After about 5 times of this activity, I kept it back and left it there. Today is the day my cake is going to be right. If not today, then when? Determination, yeah.
So here's the recipe for the two minute microwave chocolate cake.
Recipe credits my dear friend Khanak Shekhawat.
In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, cocoa powder and the baking soda. Mix well so there are no lumps remaining.
Beat the egg in another bowl and mix in the granulated sugar.
Add the vanilla essence, butter and oil. Mix everything really well.
To this bowl, slowly add in the flour mixture. Keep mixing nicely.
Add the milk and mix well. The mix should now be of pouring consistency. f the mixture feels a little dry, then you can add more milk. Mix well but don not over mix.
Grease a microwave safe mug and pour this mix in the mug. Fill the mug only half way as it will increase in size. I have never baked previously and so I didn't realize. I filled up the mug 3/4th.
Microwave on high power for 1 minute. Remove and see if the top feels cooked or still soft. If it's soft then microwave for 30 seconds more. It depends on the power of your microwave. Mine got cooked in one minute.
Remove from microwave and let cool for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle more granulated sugar on top if desired.
Take out in a serving dish and pour melted chocolate over it if you want. Decorate as desired. Instant dessert is ready. This can be prepared whenever you crave sweet (which I'm not recommending lol) without the hassle of the oven.
Now, I was over the top as I tasted this as it had no smell of baking soda and was just moist and perfect! Omg did I actually bake a cake? Couldn't believe myself. So then I decided to surprise myself and bake it in oven as well.
What I did: I preheated the oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes while I prepared the same mix with the same proportion of ingredients (I know it's too less for a big cake) again. I only wanted to remove my baking fear.
I greased a round baking form and poured the mix. Kept inside oven and baked for 25 minutes. Removed and let it cool. Decorated as desired. Ta da! Done! No more scared of baking: bring it on! If I can do this, anybody can !!!
And this was not the only thing I did on THE 29th. I went out and let myself breath the fresh air, even if it was cold. I soaked in the sun for about an hour and then watched the beautiful sunset. I clicked a million pictures. I walked on the streets I have never been on before. I kicked the beautiful, white snow.
To mark this day as more special and as a beginning point, I took two resolutions as well. I have been ignoring few things in my health and skin-care regime. Lately I have been checking my mobile and Facebook for notifications in the middle of the night and early morning as soon as I'm getting up. I have been having heaviness in my head and some pain in my eyes and I had already figured out it was because of this habit. So the two resolutions I made:
No mobile in bedroom.
Removing make up every night before sleeping.
These might seem small for so many people but I've been so lazy in removing my makeup a lot of times that I actually needed a resolution. Also I've been checking the mobile with the excuse that sometimes I need to wake up in the middle of the night; so bough myself a pocket LED torch. Kept a big pack of baby wipes on my bed side table. Both problems solved: no more excuses!
I also plan to close all the electronic and mobile devices at least half an hour before sleeping and half an hour after I get up: TV, mobile, laptop, computer.
As I have always been a creative person who loved to draw, paint and write. After all of this (and the baking adventure), I wasn't left with much of the time but still managed to draw something inspirational for myself. I was a very sensitive person and used to get hurt by everyone. I used to think I'm responsible for everything bad happening with everyone; used to get sucked in negativity everywhere but now I'm getting stronger, and happier. Learnt to pull the plug :)
Was up for another adventure so I decided to listen some Bollywood songs of the present times! I haven't heard Bollywood songs since so many years I can't even remember and I stick to the good old songs years ago as I believe there are so many useless, meaningless and high pitched and item songs today that they aren't even worth spending time on. But that day I thought: bring it on. Will give them a try. And I did. And I came across a lot of songs: funny, cheesy, meaningless (as expected), loud, strange lyrics; and then there were some nice and lovely romantic songs. So overall it was an okay experience. And I got to know not all the songs are that bad: some are okay and fine too. Here are the songs I came across if you want to hear (on your own risk).
Kar gayi chull (Kapoor and sons):
Ladki beautiful, kar gayi chull.
Ladki nahi tu hai garam maamla.
Kanya kunwaari, adbhut naari... blah blah..
(Frustrating)
Jabra fan (Fan):
Follow karun twitter pe, tag karoon Facebook pe
mere dil ke mobile ka tu unlimited plan ho gaya..
Main tera jabra fan ho gaya.. !
(Funny)
Whistle baja (Heropanti):
Mere naal tu whistle baja
Hey baby ni to ban meri lady, seekh le pyaar ki A B C D; sau mein se sau le le..
Na milna mujhe google karke..
(I know, irritating right?)
Hua hai aaj pehli baar (Sanam re)
Hua hai aaj pehli baar ki aise muskuraya hoon
Tumhe dekha to jaana yeh ki kyun duniya mein aaya hoon..
Ye jaan lekar ke jaan meri, tumhe jeene main aaya hoon
Main tumse ishq karne ki izaazat rab se laaya hoon..
(Romantic, right? Loved it.)
Deewani Mastani (Baajirao Mastaani):
Nazar jo teri laagi main deewani ho gayi
Deewani haan deewani deewani ho gayi..
Mash'hoor mere ishq ki kahaani ho gayi..
(Lovely lyrics)..
Bolna (Kapoor and Sons):
Chhuteya na chhute mose rang tera dholna
Ik tere baajo dooja mera koi mol na
bolna maahi bolna..
(Lovely and sweet, soft romantic)..
High heels te nache (Ki & Ka)
High heels te nache tu badi jache
Ruk ja tu hang on, ye to bata tu hai kaun..
(Headache begins... Stop.)
So, that was the summary of my special day: 29th February. I feel I did enough things to remember this day for the coming four years. Most importantly this day marked the beginning of my baking journey. I have also not written anything for a very long time so planning to begin writing again as well. Had written this poetry long time ago: Over The Time
Hoping the next 29th February brings newer adventures, takes me to newer places and makes me learn and unlearn a lot more. Hope to meet the next leap day with a positive spirit as always with new milestones, new creativity and new stories.
Till then,
Adieu.
Brijdeep.
Thanks for reading this. Please leave your thoughts and comments in the comments section below. And if you love food, do join me on Brijdeep's Kitchen on Facebook. Would love to connect.
