Mix Veg. Kurma

Ingredients:

1. Choppedcabbage, beans, carrots, cauliflower - 1/2 cup each
2. Small onions, sliced - 3
3. Salt - as per taste
4. Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup
5. Ginger - Garlic paste - 2 tsp.
6. Curd - 2 tbsp.
7. Poppy seeds/ Khus Khus soaked in warm water- 1/2 tsp.
8.Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1 tsp.
9. Corriander Powder - 2 tsp.
10.Green Chillies - 3
11. Dry Red Chillies - 2
12. Pepper - 1 tsp.
13. Saunf/Aniseeds - 1/2 tsp.
14. Cinnamon - a small stick
15. Cloves - 2/3
16. Cardamom - 1
17. Tomato - 1 small
18. Cashewnuts(optional) - a few
19. Lemon juice - 2 tsp.

Method:

1. Steam the vegetables till they are about half done. Remove and set aside.
2. Heat the oil and fry the sliced onions and ginger garlic paste till they turn slightly brown.
3. Add corriander powder.
3. Grind together coconut, curd, poppy seeds, jeera, green and red chillies, pepper, saunf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, tomato and cashewnuts(optional).
3. Now add the blended masala to the frying pan and fry till the oil starts leaving the sides of the masala.
4.If the masala starts sticking to the pan, lower the heat and sprinkle a little water and continue frying, stirring continuously.
5.Then add the half cooked vegetables and salt to taste. Add some water. Mix well.
6.Boil it. Cook until the vegetables are soft and tender.
7.Remove from heat. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with naan or rice :-)

Whole Wheat Naan

Ingredients :

1. Aata/Whole wheat - 2 cups
2. Warm water - 1/4 cup
3. Curd - 3/4 cup
4. Salt - 1/2 tsp.
5. Dry yeast - 1 tsp.
6. Sesame seeds/ White til - 2 tsp.

Method :

1. Mix 1/4 cup warm water and dry yeast. Set aside for 5-10 minutes, until you see bubbles.
2. Make a dough out of wheat, curd, salt and this yeast mixture. Add water if required so that the dough comes together in a slightly sticky ball.
3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover loosely with a damp cloth and let it rise for a couple of hours, until double in size.
4. Make balls out of this dough and roll them out flat. Add sesame seeds on top of the naans. You can add corriander leaves as well.
5. Bake in an OTG for 10 - 12 mins at 180 degree Celcius until it starts rising and turns slightly brown.
6. Serve with kurma.

Vanilla Sponge Cake

(Photo courtesy - my friend - Amby, who made this soft delicious cake)

My mom's recipe

Ingredients:

1. Maida/Flour - 2 cups
2. Powdered Sugar - 1 & a 1/2 cup or 1 & 3/4 cups
3. Unsalted Butter - 1 cup
4. Vanilla Essence - 1/4 tsp.
5. Baking Powder - 1/4 tsp.
6. Eggs - 2
7. Milk - as per requirement

Method :

1. Stir the butter till it becomes creamy.
2. Add sugar to it and mix well.
3. Separately, sieve maida and add baking powder to it.
4. Add this to the butter mixture, part by part, not all at once.
5. Separate the egg whites from the eggs and beat them till they increase in volume.
6. Add the egg yolks to the mixture.
7. Then add the egg whites and vanilla essence.
8. Mix well. You'll have to mix for a long time, as the batter should be of a ribbon consistency, i.e., when you hold the spoon in a slanting position, the batter should fall down like a ribbon.
9. You may add milk to achieve this semi-solid consistency.
10. Grease the cake pan with butter, pour the batter into it and bake in microwave for 5-6 mins. at 650 degree Celcius.
11. Do not take it out immediately. Take it out after 5 mins.
12. Insert a tooth pick into it, it should come out clean.

Variation:
For making chocolate cake, just mix 3 tbsp. of cocoa powder with maida.
You may add tooty fruity or dry fruits while mixing maida with baking powder.