Dog Face Shaped Cookies with Kadai (Without Oven, Eggless, No Maida)

I always look for interesting shapes to make cookies. I just liked this shape when I saw in it in a website and was tempted to try it immediately. This is ideal for Christmas baking.

For a change you bite the dog instead of the dogs biting you. Happy Baking.

Click HERE for 30+ Cookies Recipe.

Full Video for Dog  Shaped Cookie :

Recipe Cuisine : International | Recipe Category: Baking

Preparation Time: 15 mins  | Baking Time: 10 mins | Yields: 20 cookies

 Ingredients:

Wheat Flour	1 cup
Fat  ( Butter / Margarine / Dalda / Vanaspathi)	½ cup
Icing Sugar (Recipe HERE)	½ cup
Badam	As required
Choco Chips	As required
Vanilla Essence	1 tsp
For Baking without oven:
Table Salt	As required

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, add butter.  Beat the butter with electric beater or wire whisk till it becomes fluffy.

2. Then add icing sugar to the butter and mix them well.

3. Add Vanilla Essence, and then beat till it reaches fluffy consistency.

3. Now add the wheat flour to the butter mix and mix them well. Knead it into a soft and pliable dough. Leave it for 5 mins.

4. Meanwhile, Cut the Almonds into two halves vertically. Keep it aside.

5. Make gooseberry sized balls from the dough. Keep it aside.

Face:

6. Take one ball and make 1 inch diameter circle with ¼ inch thickness.

7.  Make circles from all the balls and keep it aside.

Ears:

8. Place the two almond halves (brown side up) at two sides of the circle and press them gently (refer the VIDEO).

9. Now slightly flatten the circle above the almonds

Eyes:

10. Place two choco chips (round part of the choco chip facing up) below the almonds.

Nose:

11. Place one ch0co chip (sharp part facing up) below and in between the already placed choco chips.

Ready to bake:

12. Dog face shaped cookies are now ready to bake.

13. Make all the balls  (from 7) into doggie face shape (from 8-11). Keep it aside.

Baking with Oven:

14. Take out the cookies using the flat spatula and keep it on the ungreased baking tray. Leave ½ inch space between the cookies.

15. Preheat the oven for 200 degree Celsius.

16. Bake the cookies for 10 mins at 180 degree Celsius.

Baking with Kadai / Pan:

17. Take out the cookies using the flat spatula and keep it on the ungreased baking tray. Leave ½ inch space between the cookies.

18. Add table salt in a thick kadai/pan and close the lid of the pan.  Heat the pan for 10 mins in medium flame. This is preheating step. Don’t use non stick pans.

19. Keep the tray on the salt and close the lid of the pan. Keep the flame at very low.  (please refer the video)

20. Allow to bake for 13 -15 mins.

After Baking:

21. Allow it to cool down completely in the tray itself.

22. Then take them out from the tray. Again cool them on wire rack.

23. Then store it in an airtight container for later use or serve it immediately.

Note:

1. Add enough salt, the baking tray should sit on the salt surface in the kadai. 

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Indira Agrotech - A Farm Visit

Indira Farms - An easy way to become an "activist" in the Organic Farming Trends

Organic Farming is not just a trend or fad which is to be just followed on the facebook and other socialmedia apps and forgotten. Most agree that Organic Farming should become even stronger and become an bigger Movement like Green Revolution 2.0.  The difference between a trend and movement is that more middle-class citizens become actively engaged by contributing either money or effort to the movement. The Previous Green Revolution was entirely government driven when the average Indian people was very not much knowledgeable in technology and environment. The Previous Green Revolution has been mixed because even though it helped India achieve self-sufficiency in food production, it was the start of adoption of chemical fertilizers. 

Tamilnadu is at the fore-front of this new green revolution with exceptional leaders like Nammalvar taking the lead. His followers have already taken the message and movement to wider urban population. Even other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are appreciative of Tamil Nadu's leadership role in the green revolution 2.0. However, Green Revolution 2.0 is not yet achieved its full impact yet because the opportunities for the average green conscious citizen to make an effective contribution is still limited to just buying a few organic stuff now and then.

Indira Agrotech have come up with a new cooperative farming initiative which provides the right opportunity for green conscious people to make their contribution to the movement. Indira Agro Products have started an Initiative where about 65 acres of farm land at Tindivanam, just about 100 kilometers from Chennai GST. This Farm Land is located at along a road that branches off GST at Sarasvati Engineering College on the GST. Indira Agrotech offers about 1/4 acre for Rs. 5 Laks in the collective farm. If you buy the 1/4 acre plot and sign a farming contract with them, Indira Agrotech gives you 150Kg Organically grown rice for every 6 months. You can consider this as an yearly interest for your investment while the land value keeps appreciating. India Agrotech itself will sell you the plot when the price has appreciate considerable at a market-determined price.  This project is a great contribution towards green movement because if such ideas gain market adoption, corporate farming can take off a big way in Tamil nadu and India as well. As the cooperative farming idea catches up, the investors can also profit considerably from the land appreciation. More over, Indira Agrotech will create visiting facilities in their farmland so that people can come and stay on weekends in their farm and enjoy a great village getaway. Such farm and village getaways which are easily reachable by car from Chennai city would form a great educational experience and play activity for kids. 

Indira Agrotech is a win-win innovative real-estate scheme and people should consider taking a site-vist to understand more in person about this investment-cum-green-activism opportunity.

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Eggless Butterless Chocolate cake without Maida | Cake Recipes

Everyone, from adults to kids love chocolate. They will love chocolate cake even better. Chocolate cakes are easy to prepare even without egg. I am presenting a fool proof recipe which I have tried many times with very good result (Cake always spongy). Try this and win the hearts of your loved ones again.

Click HERE for more Cake Recipes.

Full Video Recipe:

Recipe Cuisine : International | Recipe Category: Baking

Preparation Time: 10 mins  | Baking Time: 25 mins | Yields: 7 inch cake

Ingredients:

Wheat Flour	1 cup (1 cup = 240ml)
Curd / Yogurt	½ cup
Milk	½ cup
Sugar	¾ cup
Coco Powder	¼ cup
Oil (odorless)	¼ cup
Vanilla Essence	1 tsp
Baking Powder	1 tsp
Baking Soda	¼ tsp
Butter / Oil (for Greasing the pan)	As required
Powdered Sugar (for dusting)	As required
Cherries (optional)	As required

Procedure:

1. In a bowl, add milk, curd and sugar. Mix them well till the sugar dissolves completely.

2. Add baking soda with the above mixture and mix them gently. Keep it aside for 5 mins or till bubbles comes from the mixture.

3. Sieve wheat flour, coco powder and baking powder together for 2-3 times. Keep it aside.

4. Meanwhile, grease the baking pan with butter and dust with wheat flour. Keep it aside.

5. Add vanilla essence with the curd mixture (from 2).

6. Now add the sieved flour (from 3) little by little with the curd mixture (from 2).

7. Mix them well and then add remaining flour till all the sieved flour incorporate with the curd mixture.

8. Add oil and fold them gently. Cake batter is ready.

9. Pour the cake batter into the greased baking tray (I have used 7 inch round cake pan).

10. Pre heat the oven for 200 degree Celsius.

11.  Bake the cake at 180 degree Celsius for 25-30 mins or inserted the tooth pick comes out clean.

12. After, immediately take the cake out from the oven. Allow it to cool down completely.

13. Remove the cake from the pan using the knife.

14. Dust the cake with powdered sugar and serve. (this is optional)

   Really spongy and delicious eggless butter less chocolate cake is ready to serve.

Note:

1. Use 1 cup of buttermilk instead of milk and curd.

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Honey Cake Recipe (Indian Bakery Style)

Honey cake is a very popular cake and all bakeries have them always. It will be good to make it at home itself and everyone will appreciate the healthiness of homemade cakes when they have it (as they can easily compare with the taste of bakery honey cake).

Click HERE to view cake recipes.

Full Video Recipe :

                               Recipe Cuisine : Indian| Recipe Category: Baking                                      

Preparation Time: 15 mins  |  Yields: 10 slices

Ingredients:

Sponge Cake	1 *
Sugar Syrup:
Sugar	1/4 cup
Water	½ cup
Vanilla Essence	1 tsp
Jam Coating:
Mixed Fruit Jam	3 tbsp
Warm Water	1 tbsp
Garnishing:
Desiccated Coconut (Recipe HERE)	¼ cup

* Recipe for Sponge Cake:

1. Eggless Sponge Cake with curd

2. Eggless Sponge Cake with Kadai (without oven and pressure cooker)

3. Basic Vanilla Sponge Cake with Egg

Procedure:

1. Bake one sponge cake either with eggs or without eggs from the above links. Allow it to cool down completely.

2. If you have thick crust, them remove the crust from the cake. Otherwise use the cake as it is.

For Sugar Syrup:

3. Heat the water in a pan. Add granulated sugar and boil till the sugar melts completely.

4. Add vanilla essence and mix them well. Keep it aside.

For Jam coating:

5. Add the jam in a bowl. Add warm water and mix them well with the spoon.

6. Mix them well till the jam mixture reaches pouring consistency. Keep it aside.

Honey Cake:

7. Turn over the cake and pour the sugar syrup (from 4) little by little, till all the sides become wet.

8. Again turn over the cake and pour the remaining sugar syrup little by little, till all sides of the cake become wet.

9. Now spread the jam liquid (from 6) gently over the cake.

10. Then sprinkle the desiccated coconut over the jam spread.

11. Then cut it into small rectangles and serve.

     Yummy and delicious honey cake is ready to serve.

Note:

1. The measurement for honey cake is for the cake with 1 cup of flour only.

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Ragi Nei Appam / Finger Millet Ghee Paniyaram | Karthigai Deepam Recipes

Appam is the food for karthigai deepam. This karthigai deepam why not prepare a healthy millet based appam. The next step is why not avoid deep frying also. My suggestion is Ragi appam / Paniyaram because instead of deep frying we can prepare with paniyaram pan. This is all time snack which will last for more than 2 days at room temperature.

Full Video for Making of Ragi Nei Appam:

Related Links:
1. Wheat Appam
2. Dry Fruits Appam
3. Thinai Appam
4. Palm Sugar Appam

Recipe Cuisine : South Indian | Recipe Category: Breakfast | Millets

Preparation Time: 10 mins  | Cooking Time: 10 mins | Yields: 15 nos.

Ingredients:                           

Wheat Flour	½ cup (1 cup = 240 ml)
Ragi Flour	½ cup
Grated Jaggery	½ cup
Grated Coconut	½ cup
Cardamom Powder	¼ tsp
Cooking Soda	½ tsp
Oil / Ghee	As required

Procedure:

1. Heat the grated jaggery in pan with 3 tbsp of water.

2. When the jaggery melts completely, switch off the flame.

3. Filter the jaggery syrup with steel filter and keep it aside.

4. Add wheat flour, ragi flour, cardamom powder and cooking soda in a wide bowl. Mix them well.

5. Add jaggery syrup (from 3) and grated coconut. Mix them well with the wire whisk.

6. Add ½ cup of water, them mix them gently.

7. Add  water little by little and mix them gently.

8. When the batter reaches the idli batter consistency, then stop to add water.

9. Leave the batter for 5-10 mins.

10. Heat the kuzhi / kuli paniyaram pan, pour few drops of oil or (oil+Ghee) and pour this batter only upto 3/4 of the kuzhi [depression]. Cook it in medium flame.

11. After few mins, flip them to the other side and cook well until they become golden color on both sides. Then take them out from the pan carefully.

      Tasty and healthy Ragi Nei Appam is ready to serve.

Note:

1. Adjust the jaggery level according to your taste.

2. Adjust the coconut level also.
3. You can deep fry with oil or ghee also.

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Eggless Sponge Cake with Kadai (without Oven and Pressure Cooker)

Many people want to prepare cake recipes, but they don’t have oven. There are many alternate recipes which use pressure cooker instead of oven. However few don’t want to use pressure cooker because of fear that their pressure cooker might damage. I tried using normal thick bottom kadai itself for baking.  It came out very well and my family liked the outcome very much. I will also post the pressure cooker version soon.

Click HERE to view my Cake Recipes.

Full Video for sponge cake with kadai:

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:
Wheat Flour	1 cup ( 1 cup = 240 ml)
Sugar	½ cup
Baking Powder	1 tsp
Wet Ingredients:
Butter	½ cup
Milk (boiled and cold)	½ cup
Vanilla Essence	1 tsp
For Baking without oven:
Table Salt	2 cups

Procedure:

1. Sieve wheat flour and baking powder twice or thrice. Keep it aside.

2. Powder the sugar using the dry mixie jar. Keep it aside.

3. Add the butter in a wide bowl. Beat well till it becomes soft using the electric beater or whisk.

4. Add powdered sugar (from 2) to the butter and mix them slowly. Then beat them well till they become soft.

5. Add vanilla essence and mix them well.

6. Add milk to the above batter and mix them well. Don’t over mix them, because the milk turns into curdle. But don’t worry if it curdles.

7. Add sieved flour (from 1) little by little and make a soft batter. When the batter looks like a urad dal batter then it is in the right consistency. The cake batter is ready.

8. Grease the butter in a 7 inch baking tray and dusted with wheat flour.

9. Pour the cake batter and tap them gently to level the batter.

Using the Pan Version:

10. Meanwhile, add 2 cups of table salt in a thick kadai/pan and close the lid of the pan.  Heat the pan for 5 mins in high flame. This is preheating step. Don’t use non stick pans.

11. Keep the tray on the salt and close the lid of the pan. Keep the flame at very low.  (please refer the video)

12. Allow to bake for 35-45 mins or till an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.

 Using Oven Version:

13. Preheat the oven for 200 degree Celsius.

14. Bake the cake for 180 degree Celsius for 35-45 mins or till an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.

15. Allow it to cool down completely and then remove from the tray.

        Yummy and super soft eggless cake is ready to serve!

Note:

1. You can replace ½ cup butter with ½ cup odorless oil.

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