SIMPLE Fruit Cake ( X 'mas Cake ) RECIPE #63

Step 1 :- Soak dried fruits [ cranberries , walnuts, pecans , Rasins , Pistachio( optional) ,Apricot ,( optional ) green cherries, Blue berries ( optional )] in Pure grape juice / Wine / Rum for 2 days to 30 days at room temperature .

Step 2:- Mix one cup of soaked fruits and one cup of whole purpose flour / maida and keep aside .

  Step 3 :- Caramelize 1/2 a cup of sugar   

Step 4:- When it turns to brown add  1/4 cup of water carefully and keep aside 

Step 5:- Grease and flour a oven proof pan and keep aside .

Step 5:-  Grind  2-3 pieces of cinnamon sticks , 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds , 2-3 cloves , few nutmeg and a cardamon

Step 6:- Add  'Step 5 powder', and 1/2 teaspoon of  zest of orange  in a mixing bowl .

Step 7:- Add 2 eggs ,  3/4 - 1  cup of sugar, 2-4 drops of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt , ''Caramelized sugar ''( Step 4)  and butter (one stick / 1/2 cup ) .

Step 8:- Combine  well.

Step 9:-   Preheat the oven to 300 Degree Fahrenheit .   Add  step 2 flour coated fruits , 1 teaspoon of baking powder & 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda .

Step 10 :- Combine well  .

Step 11:- Pour into Step 5 pan.

Step 12:-Bake for  45 minutes - 1 hour 15  minutes .

Step 13:- Bake  until a '' wooden toothpick '' inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Step 14:- Remove and place in a  cooling rack for 15 minutes .

Step 15:- Brush butter/Pure grape juice / Wine / Rum over the top of the ''cooled cake '',  ''sprinkle'' some  chopped dry fruits and refrigerate for 5- 15 days.....

Step 16 :- X' mas Cake is ready...... :)  Wish you all  a MERRY X'MAS......GOD BLESS.............JA- Mathew-

Radish- Mushroom Thoran RECIPE #62

Step 1:- Grate 10 -15 radish .

Step 2:- Chop 10-25 medium sized mushrooms. Marinate with 2 teaspoon of turmeric powder .

Step 3:- Heat a table spoon of oil in a pan , splutter 1 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seeds and add  1/2 chopped Onion 

Step 4:- Add 2-3  chopped garlic cloves, 2-3 splitted green chilli  , 2-3 chopped pearl onion and 3-7 curry leaves .

 Step 5:-  Add 1 1/2 teaspoon of crushed cumin seeds , and saute for few minutes .

Step 6:- Add Grated radish and chopped mushroom ( step 1 & step 2) saute for few seconds in medium flame , bring down the flame and add 1 teaspoon of garam masala , 1/2 teaspoon of kash miri chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper powder  and salt.

Step 7:- Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup of dried coconut or grated coconut .Cook for another 10 -15 minutes on medium flame  until the mushroom is done . 

Step 8:- Mix well.  :) 

Step 9:- Enjoy with tortillas/ chapatis.......

Plain thin Dosa RECIPE #61

Thin Dosa:-

DOSA BATTER:-

For 20-22 Dosa, Soak [1 ½ cups of parboiled rice, ½ cup of urud dal , ¼ cup of raw rice and ½ teaspoon of fenu greek seed ] for 5-8 hours. Grind these to coarse- fine paste and keep it for another 8 hrs in 77-80 Fahrenheit for fermenting.

Before making dosa add salt and mix it well . Heat the pan ( dosa thava), wipe pan with 1/8 teaspoon oil , pour 1 ½ spoon of batter in the center and spread it properly in a circular motion with the spoon to get very thin dosa . Flip the dosa to other side ,cook the dosa from both side until it get brown in color.

Brussel's Sprouts- Beef ( Italian style ) RECIPE #60

Brussels Sprouts- Beef ( Italian style )

Recipe Courtesy  - Dr. Deepa Sathyaseelan 

Step 1:- Cut 15-20 Brussels's  sprouts , 10- 15 Mushroom and keep aside . 

Step 2:- Slice  beef ( 1 lb)  to 'thin pieces'....

Step 3:- Mix Step 1 and  Step 2  in a oven proof pan.

Step 4:- Sprinkle  4-8 teaspoon of black pepper powder , Salt , 2-4 teaspoon of brown sugar or jaggery 

Step 5:- Add 10 -12 crushed garlic  cloves.

Step 6:- Add 5-8 teaspoon of Olive oil / any vegetable oil  .Mix everything together and keep it for 10-15 minutes.

Step 7:- Preheat the oven to 400 degree Fahrenheit. And Bake for 20-40 minutes.

Step 8:- Brussels sprouts beef combination is ready....... 

Great side dish for steamed rice.....