Happy NewYear !!!!!!!!!!

Wishing all my readers all the joys of this shining season as we welcome New Year once again.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

Green Beans in Coconut Gravy

Here is a quick and simple gravy recipe .. My original idea of the recipe was just making a simple and light gravy out of green beans.. When it was done i tasted it to realise that it was too spicy. Quickly had to adjust the taste for my little one , so added coconut milk and cashew powder which really made the dish tasty..

Ingredients :

Green Beans -- 1 cup ( Chopped into small bits)

Onion -- 1 medium size chopped

Ginger -- 1 inch piece

Garlic -- 2 pods

Tomatoes -- 2 finely chopped

Coconut Milk -- 1 cup

Cashew Powder -- 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder -- 1/4 tsp

Garam Masala -- 1/4 tsp

Chilly powder -- 1/4 tsp

Salt -- to taste

Bay Leaf -- 1

Oil -- 2 tsp

Method :

• Microwave green beans for 4 min till soft.
• Heat 1 tsp oil in pan.
• Add onion , garlic and ginger and fry till have cooked.
• Add tomatoes to it and fry for a minute.
• Allow to cool.
• Grind to a coarse paste.
• Heat a heavy bottom pan and add the bay leaf.
• Now add the paste and fry till oil separates.
• Add all the spice powders and fry for a minute
• Add cooked green beans , coconut milk , cashew powder and salt.
• Allow to boil.
• Simmer to thicken and serve hot with roti's or rice..

Fruit Bread

As a kid i have enjoyed eating fresh bread from Bangalore Iyengar bakery.. These fruit breads where something even more special.. The taste is simply super and the bread super soft.. Even on my visit to India this time i made it a point that i eat these ..
I was cleaning my pantry when i found a box of these Candied Mixed Fruit , so what do u think would have flashed in my mind , and yes it made me drool over these fruit breads , i baked the fruit bread the same day.. Here is my version of it :

Ingredients :

All Purpose Flour -- 2 cup

Flax Meal-- 1 tbsp

Unsalted butter -- 1 tbsp

Warm Milk -- 1 cup

Active dry yeast -- 1 tbsp

Salt -- 1/4 tsp

Powdered Sugar -- 4 tbsp

Candied Mixed Fruit -- 1/4 cup

Saffron -- a pinch

Method :

• Mix 1tbsp of sugar to warm milk and sprinkle the yeast over it.
• Allow the yeast to froth , it may take 5 to 7 minutes.
• Mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl
• Rub in the butter to the flour so that it forms crumbs
• Slowly add the milk yeast mixture and bind the flour to form a ball
• If it is sticky add 1 tbsp of all purpose flour and knead well
• Grease a big bowl with oil and put the dough in it and and cover it with a damp cloth
• Allow to rise approximately 45 mins.
• Slowly punch the dough to release the air
• Shape the dough into a log shape and place it in a loaf pan
• Allow to raise again
• Brush the top with some melted butter for glossy finish
• Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Enjoy these delicious bread.