Dates Cake (Sugarless, Eggless)

Ingredients:
Dates paste          - 1 cup
Or
 Dates                  - 28 no:s
Milk                    -  1 cup
Oil                       - 1/2 cup
All purpose flour  -1 cup
Bicarbonate soda -1 tsp
Walnuts               -2 tbsp

Method:
.Preheat the oven to 350degree F.Greese the baking pan with oil.

.Roast walnuts in microwave for 10 seconds and keep aside.

.If you are using dates instead of dates paste,first boil the milk  and then soak the dates in milk for 10 minutes  and then grind it into a paste along with milk and oil.If you are using the dates paste,simply grind it to a paste along with milk and  oil..

.In another wide bowl,take all purpose flour .To this sprinkle bicarbonate soda and combine well.To this slowly add the dates paste that we already prepared and combine well with a spatula.At the end add the roasted walnuts to this and mix well.Now pour the cake batter to the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.Cool it for10 minutes.Remove from pan to wire rack.Cool completely.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
All purpose flour   -2 1/2 cups
Baking soda          -1 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon              -1/4 tsp
Ground nutmeg      -1/4 tsp
Salt                        -1/4 tsp
Ripe bananas          -3 large ,peeled
Eggs                       - 2 large
Sugar                      -3/4 cup
Unsalted butter        -1/2 cup(1 stick) melted and cooled
Walnuts/cashew nuts-3/4 cup chopped
Confectioner's sugar for dusting(optional)

Method:
    Heat oven to 350 degrees.Coat two loaf pans with non stick cooking spray.Set aside.

In a large bowl,combine flour,baking soda,cinnamon,nutmeg and salt.Make a well in the center by pressing dry ingredients up against side of bowl.
Mash the banana in a second bowl..Add eggs,sugar and butter.With an electric mixer on medium speed,beat eggs,sugar and melted butter into bananas until smooth.

Pour banana mixture into well in dry ingredients and stir just until blended.Fold in walnuts or cashewnuts,then divide batter evenly between prepared loaf pans.

Bake loaves at 350 degrees for 35 minutes,until browned and tops spring back lightly when gently pressed.Remove to wire rack to cool,dust with confectioner's sugar,if desired and serve.

Strawberry Banana muffin

Ingredients:
All purpose flour    - 2cups
Light brown sugar  - 3/4 cup
Baking powder      - 3/4 tsp
Baking soda          - 1/2 tsp
Salt                      - 1/2 tsp
Milk                     - 1/4 cup
Eggs                     - 2
Vanilla essence     - 1 tsp
Vegetable oil        - 1/2 cup
Banana                - 1 banana mashed
Strawberry(Fresh)- 1/2 cup chopped

Method:
Heat oven to 350degrees.Brush muffin pan with vegetable oil.

In a large bowl.whisk flour,sugar,baking powder,baking soda and salt.Make a well in the center by pressing dry ingredients up against side of bowl.
Mash the banana in a second bowl.Whisk together milk,eggs,oil,vanilla extract and banana mashed .Pour this mixture into the well in flour mixture,then stir just until combined.Fold in strawberries.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan,1/3 cup batter in each cup.If you are using 12 cup muffin pan  ,fill the remaining cups with water(to bake muffins evenly) as this batter makes only 9-10 muffins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly browned.Remove from pan and allow it to cool in wire racks.

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake

Source:Hershey's

Merry X'mas to all of you!!!!!

For Cake
Ingredients:
All purpose flour    -1 3/4 cups
Sugar                     -2 cups
Cocoa powder       -3/4 cup
Baking powder       -1 1/2tsp
Baking soda            -1 1/2 tsp
Salt                         - 1 tsp
Eggs                        -2
Milk                        - 1 cup
Vegetable oil           - 1/2 cup
Vanilla extract         - 2tsp
Boiling water           - 1cup\

Method:
- Heat oven to 350degree F.Grease and flour two 9- in .round baking pans.
- Combine dry ingredients in large bowl.Add eggs,milk,oil and vanilla;beat on medium speed   
  for 2minutes.Stir in boiling water(batter will be thin).Pour into pans.
- Bake 30-35 minutesor until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.Cool 10 minutes.Remove
  from  pans to wire racks.Cool completely.Frost with your favorite icing.

For Frosting:
Ingredients:
Powdered Sugar        - 3 cups
Butter  or margarine    -1/2 cup
Vanilla extact             -1tsp
Cocoa powder           - 2 tbsp
Milk                           -1/3 cup

Method:
Melt butter.Alternately  add powdered sugar and milk ,beating on medium speed to spreading consistency.If you want to use chocolate frosting you can add cocoa powder with this.Stir in vanilla to this mixture.For making flowers, frosting mixture should be stiff.To make it stiffer, you can add more powdered sugar ,if needed.For frosting over the cake  add more milk ,if needed.

Chocolate Fruit Cake

Ingredients:
Self raising flour      -225 gm
Or
Maida(225gm) +1/2 tbsp baking powder
Butter                    - 125 gm
Castor sugar          - 125 gm
Beaten eggs           - 2
Mixed dry fruits     - 125 gm
Milk                      -6-7 tbsp
Chocolate powder -2tbsp

Method:
Cream butter and sugar.Gradually mix eggs and flour to this.Now add the fruits ,chocolate powder and milk .Mix well.Transfer the mixture to a butter greased baking pan.Bake in a pre-heated oven in
350 degreesF(180 degrees C) for about 40 minutes.Take the pan out of the oven and allow it to cool for atleast 5 minutes before taking it out of the pan.

Mango mousse Pie

This is a very easy recipe.All you need are some mangoes,heavy cream,gelatin,sugar and graham cracker crust (I had mentioned how to make a graham cracker crust in the previous post).If its not a mango season, you can use tin mango which we usually gets in any Indian store.
Ingredients:
Mango                     -2 cups sliced
Heavy cream            -1 cup chilled
Gelatin(unflavoured)  -1 tbsp
Sugar                        -1/4 cups
Cold water                -1/4 cup   
Graham crust             -1
Powdered sugar         - 3tbsp

Method:
Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a sauce pan.Let it stand one minute to soften.Stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved(about 1 minute).Remove from heat.Place,mango slices,sugar and gelatin mixture in a blender.Whirl to puree.Pour into a blowl.Chill for an hour.Beat the cream and powdered sugar in a bowl.Stir the cream to the mango puree and pour into crust.Refrigetrate for 2 hours before serving.