Banana Walnut Bread

I posted Banana Walnut Cake. That is a cake, more sweet. The one I am listing below is a Bread which is mild and can be eaten with jelly or the way my kids liked it - with Strawberry Cream.

Ingredients :
Milk - 1/2 Cup
Mashed ripe banana - 1/3 Cup
Egg - 1
Butter - 1 Tbsp
Bread Flour - 2 Cups
Sugar - 2 Tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon - 1/9 Tsp
Active Dry Yeast - 1 tsp
Chopped Walnuts or Pecans - 1/2 Cup

Procedure :
1) Add all the ingredients to your Bread machine according to your Manufacturer's instructions
2) Add the dry Ingredients first
3) Add banana with the milk
4) Use light setting if available.

Cheddar Cheese Bars

My kids wanted to try something savory and I decided to try these out.

Ingredients :

Milk - 2/3 Cup
Egg - 1
Bread Flour - 2 Cups
Shredded Cheddar, Swiss or Monterey Jack Cheese - 1 Cup
Sugar - 1 Tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Active Dry Yeast - 1 tsp
Milk - as needed
Finely Shredded Parmesan Cheese - 1/4 Cup

Procedure :
1) Add the first 7 ingredients to Bread Machine according to your manufacturer's instructions
2) Select Dough Cycle
3) When Cycle is complete (about 2.5 hours in my machine), remove dough. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
4) On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into half. Roll each half into a 12x8 inch rectangle.
5) cut into strips.
6) On lightly greased baking sheets, shape each strip into a bar
7) Cover and let rise in a warm place till nearly double in size (20 to 30 minutes)
8) Brush them with additional milk and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
9) Bake in a 375 degree oven for 12 minutes or till golden.
10) Cool on wire racks and store.

Marble Cake

Took a long break, had a good summer and am back with a bang! This recipe came out exceptionally well and looks and tastes delicious!

Ingredients:

All purpose Flour : 2 cups
White Sugar : 1 cup
Butter, softened : 1/2 cup
Baking powder : 2 Tsp
Salt : 1/2 Tsp
Vanilla Extract : 1 Tsp
Milk : 1 Cup
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder : 2 Tbsp

Method :
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2) Grease and flour the cake tin
3) Place flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, butter or margarine, eggs, vanilla, and milk into mixing bowl. Beat slowly to moisten, then beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth.
4) Reserve 3/4 cup batter; pour the remainder into pan.
5) Stir cocoa into the 3/4 cup reserved batter. Drop by spoonfuls over top of white batter. Using a knife, swirl the cocoa batter into the white batter to incorporate it in a marble effect
6) Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

Lemon Bars

Am in a mood to bake today! I got this recipe from a dear friend and tried at home with a little variation. It is yummy.

Ingredients :

4 ounces butter

2 cups flour

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

4 beaten eggs

2 cups sugar

4 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel

sifted confectioners sugar

Procedure :

1) Heat oven to 325 F.
2) Blend butter, flour and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar.
3) Pat into non greased 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
4) For filling, blend together eggs, sugar, 4 tbsp. flour, lemon juice and lemon peel.
5) Pour over first layer.
6) Return to oven and bake at 325 F for about 35-40 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7) Loosen around edges and sift confectioners sugar over top while warm.
8) Cut when cooled.

Carrot Kheer

As a part of the Alphabet game, when it came to C, I made Carrot Kheer. Oh yeah, I know my alphabets...there is a "B" in between. But, I made Bhel puri with B which is not a dessert in any sense. Carrot kheer is simple, yummy and nutritious. The bunny idea is my kids'.

Ingredients:

Grated Carrots - 3 cups
Sugar - 1 Cup (or less)
Condensed Milk - 1 tin
Milk - 2 Cups
Cashew nuts - garnishing

Procedure
1) Grated carrots can be boiled in milk either in a pressure pan or microwave. I prefer pressure pan as it is healthier.
2) Add the condensed milk and Sugar and bring to a boil in a sauce pan.
3) Decorate with cashew nuts.
4) Chill and serve.

Almond Cookies

We started a family Alphabet game. Once a week, we pick an alphabet and do things that correspond with that. Last friday, we did "A". We ate Almond Cookies, watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and read "Aladdin". You would be seeing more posts in my blog now. So, here's the Almond Cookies that I made which became an instant hit. (I wouldn't be surprised if my kids want to repeat an "A" twice a month...

Ingredients:

Butter - 1 cup
Almond extract - 1/2 tsp
Powdered sugar - 3/4 Cup
Flour - 2 Cups
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Oats, uncooked - 1 Cup
Almonds, finely chopped - 1/2 Cup

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Beat butter and almond extract until fluffy; gradually beat in sugar.

3. Add combined flour and salt; mix well.

4. Stir in oats and almonds.

5. Shape to form round balls and press them firmly till they are flat.

6. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 15-18 minutes or until light golden brown.

Carrot and Pineapple Muffins

These are yummy, nutritious and serve as breakfast too. I love them with my coffee.

Ingredients
All Purpose Flour - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 1/2 cups
Baking Powder - 2 tsp
Ground Cinnamon - 2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Slightly beaten Eggs - 3
Cooking Oil - 2/3 Cup
Milk - 1/3 Cup
Vanilla - 2 tsp
Finely shredded carrot - 1 1/2 cups
Crushed, drained pineapple - 1 8oz can
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Chopped walnuts or pecans - 1/2 cup

Procedure
1) Pre heat the oven to 35o degrees
2) Line a muffin pan of 24 cups capacity with paper bake cups or grease them.
3) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and soda.
4) In another bowl, combine eggs, oil, milk and vanilla
5) Stir in carrot, pineapple, raisins and nuts.
6) Add the egg and carrot mixture to the flour mixture. Stir well until moistened.
7) Spoon the batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
8) Bake for 18-20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
9) Cool the muffin pan for 5 minutes and remove the cups
10) Makes 24 muffins.