Celeberating X'mas with easy to bake Apple cake

Happy X'mas Fellow Bloggers :), add a little cheer with a easy to bake Apple cake this christmas.

Ingredients :

Apples : 4

Vegetable Oil : 175ml

Castor Sugar : 225g

Egg : 2

Plain Flour : 210g

Cinnamon Powder  : 1/2tsp

Bicarbonate of Soda : 1tsp

Vanilla Essence : 1tsp

Salt  : 1/2tsp

Walnuts : 50g

Raisins : 50g

Method :

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease a bunt mould or ring mould and keep aside.

• Peel and slice the apples.

• With an electric mixer, beat the oil and sugar together until blended. Add the eggs one by one and continue beating until the mixture is creamy.

• Sift together the flour, salt, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon.

• Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture  and add vanilla essence. Stir in the apples, walnuts and raisins.

• Pour the batter into the greased baking tin and bake until a toothpick inserted and come out clean which is roughly about 40 minutes.

• Let it stand for another 15minutes after baking and then Transfer to a wire rack.

Serving Suggetions : a). Serve with chocolate sauce b). or Dust with a layer of icing sugar before serving.

POOVADA

Ingredients :

Rice Flour : 1 1/2Cup

Cumin Seeds : 1 1/2 tsp

Water : 1 3/4 Cup

Ghee : 1tsp

Shredded Coconut : 1/2Cup
Cardamom Powder : 1/2tsp(optional)

Salt : 1/2tsp++
Banana Leaf

Method :

1. Heat ghee in a pan and add shredded coconuts, Cardamom powder, cumin seeds and enough salt, saute for few seconds and let it combine in low flame. Keep aside.

2. Allow water to boil in a heavy bottom vessel and add salt and rice flour (tip: stir continuesly to avoid formation of lumps).

3. When water is absorbed completely transfer it to another bowl and wrap with a white cloth (optional)

4. Allow the dough to cool and then knead it well with your hands.

5. Now on banana leaf spread coconut oil. From the dough take a handful and spread it on banana leaf. If you find difficulty in spreading the dough, dip your fingers in water and then then do it.

6. Spread 2spoonfull of filling on it and fold the leaf carefully. Press the sides of the ada and carefully to seal it and place them in a steamer or place them on a chappathi tawa.

7. Cook for 15-20minutes. Serve hot as a breakfast / Tea time snack.

Easy Chicken And Potato Masala / Kerala Chicken and Potato Masala

Potatoes tastes great when cooked with chicken, that's because it absorbs spices and those lovely flavors. Chicken potato masala is a common kerala chicken dish and it goes well with appam / pathiri  / hot rice.

Ingredients : 

Chicken : 1kg, Cut in to small pieces

Potato : 2, medium sized, cubed

Onion : 3, medium sized, Sliced

Tomato : 2, medium sized, sliced

Ginger garlic green chilli paste : 2tsp

Chilli Powder : 3tsp

Coriander Powder : 5tsp

Turmeric Powder : 1/2tsp

Garam Masala : 1tsp

Curry leaves : 2springs

Coconut oil : 3tbsp

Salt

Method :

1. Heat oil in a kadai and saute the green chilli-ginger-garlic paste and curry leaves till you get a nice aroma. Now add the onions and saute them till it turns translucent.

2. Add the tomatoes and  combine well. After 5minutes put  all spices one by one and dry roast them till it turns dark brown.

3. Now add the chicken pieces and saute for 5minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and cook for 15minutes on low flame.

4. When the chicken is 50%cooked add the potatoes and cook for another 15minutes.

5. Add enough salt and turn of the flame. Close the kadai with a tight lid and let it stand for another 10minutes before serving.

Note : You can cook this in a pressure cooker easily. Use pressure cooker instead of kadai in 3rd step , after adding chicken saute it for 5minutes and pressure cook chicken with potatoes. For better results open the lid only after 20minutes.