Dates and raisin muffins

   For this CCC Challenge, I took my help from Morphy Richards Recipe Guide, that dates back to twenty years :)  Thanks to my dear mom, who saved it for me :)  From this book, I choosed Dates and Raisin muffins.  There has been an usual dilemma between cupcakes and muffins, isn't it?  So, let me resolve this before getting back to my post :)

         

Detox salad

Hi guys........  How are you all :)  And how was your new year celebrations?  We, celebrated ours @ Paradise :P  Yeah, that is an advantage of being an Hyderabadi, you know??  So, after an hectic schedule and exotic party foods, you must now feel to cut down some fat, opt for an brisk walk or prefer your green tea??  If so, then,  this salad is perfect for you :)  :)  Detox is nothing but, De + Tox, that is removing (De) the toxins/poisons from your body.  This is done by intaking fruits/vegetable known to nourish such properties.  

Detox salad, is an colourful platter of  such healthy vegetables and fruit in an glossy and sparkling dressing :)  I dressed them with olive oil, brown sugar, lime juice and crushed garlic.  Garlic, again is an pure anti-oxidant and I am used to eating them raw earlier days in order to get releived from monthly menstrual pain.  (Beleive me guys, garlic always does an ABRACADABRA magic to  periods pain)  If you guys are not used to raw garlic, you can avoid them and go with other dressings :)  I have also included spinach here, again it is not at all problem to include canned or raw baby spinach leaves.  I have used paalak, one can use mustard/Amaranthus too :)

Cooking time: 30 seconds

Cooling time/drying time: 15 minutes

Assembly: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients required

For salad

• 1/2 cup of  beetroot, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 cup of carrot, cut into thin strips 
• 1/2 cup of pineapple, cut into thin strips
• 10 spinach leaves

For dressing

• 2 tbspn of olive oil
• 1 tsp of brown sugar
• 2 garlic pods, crushed
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method

Blanch spinach leaves in hot water, for about thirty seconds.  Remove and dry them for fifteen minutes.  Tear them into long strips.  In an bowl, mix all dressing and toss beet, carrot, spinach, and pineapple sticks into them.  Enjoy....

       Happy cooking and happy detoxing :P  :P  :P  :)  :)  :)

Bread basket

I was completely amazed by these bread baskets when I first saw them at Homebakers guild.  Later, I went through an elaborate online search, and found  this  youtube video.  With my own dough recipe, I, finally made these gorgeous basket.  

When I placed them on my dinner table, they were quite deceiving and imitated a real basket carrying fruits.  You can surprise your guests at parties and your family too.  

BOUNTY BAR/ COCONUT BAR - (Without chocolate mould)

  Ever since I have started my blog, many requested me to post some chocolate recipes.  Am sooo sorry that I was not able to post this earlier :(  Very idea for posting this bar struck me, when I was searching for some offline content.  Yes, they were for CCC Challenge.  It was then, that I stumbled upon my chocolate recipes notebook.  I used to treasure them a lot, because saving them from Varsha's clutches is really, really an hard deal :)  And yes, like all you wished, I am planning to pen down more and more of chocolates :)

Bounty chocolates are regular chocolates stuffed with moist coconut filling.  Every bite is heavenly as we can relish the goodness of both chocolate and coconut.  These are sure to delight all-ages.  Shama liked them a lot and Varsha is also growing fond of them.  You can surprise the kids or allot them for party.  New Year is also approaching, by the way, why dont you guys give them a try?

Bhaja Moong dal - Potluck party, cyber style December 28th 2013

   For this month of potluck party, I was paired with Sutapa.  I was too happy because I am an dal or gravy-aholic lady.  In this blogging world, we can see many bakes, many goodies  or many virtual treats, but when it comes to your home-cooking, making gravies or dal for dinner becomes an wondering part of life because breakfast and lunch preparation gets over my morning itself.  And for me, I simply quiz what to cook up, with my refrigerator and provisions shelf wide open  :D  :D   This potluck party, very clearly compensated my thought :P  

Bhaja moong dal, an bengali dal is an rich and exotic dal.  'Bhaja' means 'fry' and so moong dal was fried with ghee before pressure cooking and tempered with spices and coconut.  When I prepared, I can notice a pleasent aroma and taste, unlike other dal preparations.  So, thanks to Sutapa for introducing such an nice dal to us, I enjoyed them thoroughly with roti.