Semolina Bread 

There was so much of posts around this semolina bread in a baking group I am part of, So I decided to try it. I was little skeptical on whether it will rise and taste good. After baking all my doubts were cleared.

Ingredients

• Warm Water -1.5 Cup (Not too Hot not too cold)
• Yeast - 1 Teaspoon
• Semolina (Rawa)- 3.1/4 Cup
• Sugar - 1 Tablespoon 
• Salt - 1.5 Tablespoon
• Olive Oil - 1/4 Cup 

Method

• In a mixing bowl, add the water and sugar and mix well. To this add Yeast and mix.
• Cover the bowl with a plate and keep it aside for 10 minutes till the yeast becomes frothy.
• To this add Semolina, salt and knead it well for 10-15 minutes, add Oil in between the kneading
• In the beginning it may be sticky as you knead it will form a dough.
• Take another bowl and slightly coat it with Oil and place the Dough and cover it with a kitchen towel and keep it aside for 1 Hour or till it doubles in size.
• Once the dough has doubled, bring it to a dusted kitchentop. Dust it with Maida or wheat flour.
• Now punch down the dough and knead it well for 5 minutes.
• Shape it into a loaf and place it in a greased Loaf Pan.
• Cover the loaf pan with a kitchen towel and allow it to double.
• This would take about 30-45 minutes depending of the climate, the quality of yeast etc.
• Once the loaf has doubled, Bake it at 200C for 30 - 45 Minutes. 
• Cool it completely before slicing. 

Vegetable Savory Cake - With whole Wheat Flour 

Why does cakes have to be always sweet? So I was searching for a Savory Cake and stumbled upon this recipe. It is simple, easy, Healthy and tasty.

I used whatever vegetables was available at my house. Use your creativity and add veggies of your choice.

Ingredients
Rava/ Semolina - 1 Cup
Wholewheat flour - 1/2 Cup
Curd -1 cup 
Water- 1 Cup
Baking Soda - 1 Teaspoon
Red chilli powder- 1 Teaspoon
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Teaspoon
Salt - To Taste
Fresh coriander leaves

For tempering:

Mustard seeds - 1 Teaspoon 
Cumin seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Asafoetida powder - A generous Pinch 
Oil - 2 Tablespoon 

1 cup assorted veggies:

Onion - 1 (Finely Chopped)
Carrot - 1 (Chopped)
Green Beans - 4 (Chopped)
Baby Corn - 3 (Chopped)
Green Peas - 2 Tablespoon
Ginger - 1 Teaspoon (Grated)
Method

• Soak the Rava/Semolina in the cup of water for 10 minutes
• Heat a pan and add Oil and add Mustard and once it crackles add the Cumin seeds.
• To this add Onion, Asafoetida,and Chopped veggies and give it a quick stir.
• To this add Ginger,Chilly powder, Turmeric powder and saute for a minute.
• To the soaked Semolina add yogurt and mix well.
• To this add the Whole Wheat flour and mix well.
• Add salt to taste and add the sauteed Veggies to this.
• Now add the baking soda and mix well.
• Pour this prepared batter into a greased Baking tray.
• Bake this at 190C for 30-40 minutes.
• Cook completely and cut it. 

Sooji Halwa aka Pull Halwa - Not It is not Kesari 

One day when I went to Mom's house, she had made this. I thought it will taste just like Kesari, one mouth and I was surprised. It was extremely, extremely tasty and had layers of flavours.

Believe you, you will  go for 2nd,3rd,4th,5th servings for sure.

Ingredients
Sooji/Rava - 1 Cup
Ghee - 1+1/2 Cup
Milk - 3 Cups (Boiled and at Room Temperature- Dont add Raw Milk, it will split)
Sugar - 2 Cups
Cashewnuts - 1/4 Cup

Method:

• Take a Kadai and add one cup of ghee and when it is slightly warm add the Sooji and saute it.
• Saute it for 3-5 minutes. Then reduce the flame to the minimum and add the Milk and stir.
• Cook till the Sooji is done. This may take about 5-8 minutes.
• Then add the sugar and stir it.
• Now cook this halwa on low flame till the ghee oozes out from the halwa.
• You can cover the Halwa and stir it every 2-3 minutes to avoid burning.
• Meanwhile, take the rest 1/2 Cup of Ghee in a another kadai and warm it and add the cashewnuts.
• Saute the Cashewnuts till they are crispy and done. Ensure it does not change colour.
• Now add the cashewnuts along with the ghee to the prepared Halwa and stir.
• Now your Fabulous tasting Halwa is ready. 

Rava Idly

This is one breakfast recipe that sneaks into my kitchen at least once in a week. This is my Mom's favorite. I love this as it is easy, tasty and always is a HIT whenever I make it.

Usually people say to use sour curd,however I make curd the day before and use to make this recipe. In this way, I think the idly is soft, fresh and has the right amount of sourness.

Dont get demotivated by the long list of ingredients, you can pick and use whatever ingredients you have in your pantry.

Ingredients

Rava - 1 Cup
Curd - 1/2 - 3/4 Cup (Depends on the sourness of your curd)
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Teaspoon
Cashewnuts - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Gram Dal - 1 Tablespoon
Urad Dal - 1/2 Tablespoon
Roasted Peanuts - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Green Chillies - 2 (Finely Chopped)
Ginger - 1/2 Inch (Finely grated)
Peas - 2 Tablespoon (Optional)
Carrot - 1 (Finely Grated,Optional)
Turmeric Powder and Hing - A pinch Each.
ENO - 1 Tablespoon
Curry Leaves and Coriander - As per choice
Oil and Salt.

Method

In a pan, add a tablespoon and once it is hot, add the mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.

Then add the Peanuts,Gram Dal and saute for 30 seconds and then add the cashewnuts and Urad dal and saute for 30 seconds. Then add the green chillies, curry leaves,Asafoetida and Turmeric Powder and saute.

Then add the Rava and roast till nice aroma comes, say for 5 minutes. Now remove it from the flame and keep it aside to come to room temperature.

Now whisk the curd nicely and to this add the Ginger,salt,vegetables and the roasted ingredients to make a thick batter. You can alter the quantity of water and curd as per your taste. As I use only fresh curd I make it fully with curd.

After mixing, keep it aside for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the Idly Plates ready.

Place the Idly Pot with 2 inches of water (as per the size of your pot) and switch on the stove so it comes to a boil.

Meanwhile, grease the idly plates with a coking oil generously.

We have to add ENO into the batter Just before pouring the batter into the Idly plates.

Once the water is boiling in the pot and all the plates are greased, add ENO to the prepared batter and give it a quick stir and add batter into the prepared idly plates and steam for 12-15 minutes or till it is done.