Basic Whole Wheat Oats Pastry Shell / Whole Wheat Tart 

Pastry shell or Tart shell is a basic base to make any Tart or Quiche. It is usually cooked with loads of butter and Maida, so I did some searching and found this healthy version of Shell.

Believe you in me, this Tart also tastes just as amazing as the regular Tart shell. I plan to post the recipe of the Maida version too very soon. It is high time I need to work on my time management, these days with too many things my time management is going hay wire, need to fix it soon.

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour  - 1 Cup
Rolled Oats - 1/2 Cup (I have used Quaker)
Olive Oil - 1/3 Cup (Use Melted butter for a buttery tasting shell)
Dried herbs - 1 Teaspoon (Optional)
Garlic Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon (Optional)
Baking powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt -  1/2 Teaspoon
Milk - 1/2 Cup (Can use water too)

Method

• Dry roast the Oats for couple of minutes and then grind it into a powder.
• To this mix all the ingredients except milk and Oil
• To this mixture, add butter and oil and rub it in till it looks like bread crumbs.
• To this add milk little by little and knead it into a smooth dough
• Cover it with a cling film and rest it in refrigerator for 15 minutes. You can skip this step, if you are pressed for time.
• Now take a tart tin or Pie dish and slightly grease it with butter or oil
• Roll the prepared dough into  big circle and place it on the Tart tin and cut off the extra edges.
• Poke the Tart shell using a fork so the base is crispy.
• Bake it for 10-15 minutes at 200C or it is golden brown.
• Using this we can prepare Quiche, Tarts or Pie. 

Whole Wheat Garlic Scones 

Scones are a fantastic accompaniment with Tea/Coffee. I make them Crispy outside and slightly chewy inside so I get the feel of layers of texture. I have tried this recipe with garlic powder and fresh garlic and they both taste great. I used the recipe from here.

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 1 Cup
Quick Cooking Oats - 1/4 Cup (I used Quaker)
Fresh Garlic - 6 (Grated, adjust to taste, I like garlic so I have used it more)
Curd - 1/2 Cup
Oil or Cheese - 1/4 Cup (I used a combination of Rice Bran Oil and Cheddar Cheese)
Milk - 1/4 Cup  (You can use Water or combination of water and Milk)
Baking powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Red Chilly powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 Teaspoon

Method

• In a big bowl add all the ingredients except milk and mix them well.
• Once everything is mixed, add milk little by little and knead till you get a dough consistency.
• Rest it for 10 minutes.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it using a rolling pin.
• The thickness can be 1/2 inch.
• Now using a cookie cutter cut them into desired shapes.
• Place this on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil or Parchment paper.
• Prick the scones using a fork.
• Bake it in a pre heated oven for 10-15 minutes or till it is slightly golden brown at 180C. 

Yellow Moong Dal Khichdi

Khichdi is a famous dish in may parts of India. However I got introduced to it only post my wedding. It is very similar to our South Indian Pongal, however it is much lighter.
My hubby says that Khichdi is usually served at his place when someone is sick as it is easy to digest.

It is very easy to prepare and they are many variations to this. Today I have shared the Basic Moong Dal Khichdi. To this you can add simple Tadka, Vegetables etc

Ingredients

Rice - 1 Cup
Split Yellow Moong Dal - 1/2 Cup
Hing/Asafoetida - A generous Pinch
Ghee - 1/2 Teaspoon (Add more as per your wish,usually they add lots of ghee)
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Green Chilly - 1 (Slit)
Salt - To Taste

Method

• Wash The rice and Yellow moong dal and soak it in 5 cups of water for 30 minutes
• Then cook them in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles or till it is done well.
• Allow the pressure to settle on its own.
• Meanwhile warm Ghee and once it is warm add Cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
• Switch off the flame, add asafoetida, Green chillies and saute for the minute.
• Add the tadka to the cooked rice-Dal mixture, add salt and mix it well.
• If you want you can add some more warm Ghee. 

Whole Wheat Pav with Indian Herbs. 

I love to add lots of Herbs to my bread, so this time when I decided to Bake Whole Wheat Pav, I decided to add loads of Indian Hers like Coriander, Mint, etc. I have used Wheat flour to make you can use All Purpose flour for very soft Pav. For the recipe with AFP click here. 

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 3 Cups
Warm Water - 1.5 Cups
Olive Oil - 1 Tablespoon
Salt - 1 Teaspoon
Sugar - 1 Tablespoon
Yeast - 1.5 Teaspoon (1 Teaspoon Instant yeast, 1.5 teaspoon Active Dry or 3 teaspoon Fresh Yeast)
Fresh Coriander Leaves - 2 Tablespoons (Finely Chopped)
Mint leaves - 1 Tablespoon (Finely Chopped)
Green Chillies - 1 Teaspoon (Finely Chopped, adjust to taste)
Garlic - 2 Tablespoon (Peeled, finely chopped)

Method

• In a mixing bowl, place the luke warm water and add the sugar and stir it well.
• To this add the Dry yeast and cover with a plate and leave it aside till it is frothy.
• In another mixing bowl, place the Wheat Flour and Salt and add Butter or Oil and mix it well. 
• To this add the Yeast water and knead for 8-10 minutes or till you get a smooth pliable dough.
• Now place this dough in a oiled bowl and cover it with a damp cloth and allow it to rise.
•  This may take 1 Hour.
  
• Once the Dough has doubled, bring the dough to the top of the kitchen counter and punch it down and knead for couple of minutes.
• Now add Coriander leaves, garlic, Green Chillies and Mint Leaves and knead it well. 
• Then shape it into Pav and place it in a greased  tin.
• Place them touching each other and  Cover it lightly with a damp cloth and allow it to rise for 30-45 minutes.
• After 30-45 minutes, Bake it in a Pre heated Oven for 30 minutes at 180C and Broil for 5 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread - With Wheat 

After my success with the Pumpkin Soup, I wanted to bake something using Pumpkin but somehow I slipped out of my memory. So this time as soon as I purchased Pumpkin, I headed home and started making this aromatic Bread.

Do try this and I promise you wont be disappointed at all.

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Flour - 1 Cup
Pumpkin Puree - 1 Cup (Refer to Pumpkin Soup)
Maida - 1 Tablepoon
Raisins - 1 Tablespoon
Almonds - 6-8 (Roughly Chopped)
Sugar- 1/2 Cup (I used Brown, bu regular sugar is fine too)
Yoghurt - 2 Tablespoon (Subsitute with Soy Milk for Vegan)
Grated Coconut - 2 Tablespoon (Optional, But believe me this takes the bread to the next level)
Oil - 1 Tablespoon
Baking powder - 1 Teaspoon
Cinnamon Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt - A pinch

Method

• In a mixing Bowl add Pumpkin Puree, Curd,Oil, sugar,coconut,cinnamon powder,salt and mix well.
• Sift Wheat flour, Baking Soda and Maida together.
• Mix the Sifted Flour to the prepared liquid mixture and lightly mix them.
• To this add the Raisins and Almonds.
• Pour this prepared batter into greased Baking Pan.
• Bake this at 190C in a pre heated oven for 30-40 minutes or till it is cooked.
• Cool it completely and then slice.