Choco Carrot Loaf

Nowadays I spend more time on Pinterest!!I get sucked in there for a long time even more than facebook.I had pinned this recipe onto my boards long time ago.Actually I have a lot of recipes pinned to be tried.

Finally made up my mind to bake this when my son asked me to bake a chocolate cake.I didnt want to bake a simple plain chocolate cake.I wanted a veggie or fruit as one of the main ingredinets in addition to the chocolate.So I googled up and found this recipe here.It sounded healthy and it was moist and delicious.

Thanks Rita of Mochachocolata!!

Ingredients:

Allpurpose flour - 1 cup

Baking Powder - 1 tsp

Baking Soda - 1tsp

Sugar -3/4  cup

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder -1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp

Cinnamon Powder - 1tsp

Salt - a pinch

Vegetable oil -1/2 cup and 1 tbsp

Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Grated Carrot - 1 1/2 cup about 3 medium

Eggs - 2

Handful of semisweet chocolate chips -didnt use because I didnt have any.

Method :

Preheat oven to 350F, lightly grease a  loaf pan. Place eggs, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl.

 Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder in another bowl. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla mixture until pale, add flour mix and beat until well mixed, add grated carrots, mix well.

If using chocolate chips fold in the batter.

 Pour the batter into a loaf pan bake for about 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.Mine was done in 50 minutes.

 Let cool in the oven for 10 minutes, and turn onto a wire rack to cool completely

Poondu / Garlic Kuzhambu

I never miss Menu rani's Arusuvai neram in JayaTv..This was featured in her one of her shows last month.We have a family recipe of Poondu Kuzhambu,but this was slightly different from what we make.So just thought of trying this for lunch.It tasted great with plain rice.

Ingredients:

Roast the following in 2tsp of oil and grind it into a smooth paste:-

Coriander Seeds -2 tbsp


Garlic pods - 4

Whole black pepper -1 tsp

Dry red chillies -6

Black gram/Urad dal -  1tsp

Curry leaves - a handful

  
Other ingredients:

Garlic cloves - 6

Shallots - 6

Cumin seeds - 1tsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Tamarind - lemon sized

Salt to taste

Sesame oil - 5 tbsp

Method:

Soak the tamarind in water and extract about 2 cups.

Heat the oil in a pan.When hot add the mustard seeds.When it splutters,add the cumin seeds.

Then add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes.Now add the shallots and saute till translucent.

Now add the turmeric powder and then add the thick extract.When it starts boiling,simmer  for about 5 minutes till raw smell goes off.

Now add the paste,required amount of salt,stir well and simmer for another 5 minutes till the kuzhambu becomes thick.

Garnish with curry leaves.

Serve with rice.

Brownie Muffins

This muffin is definitely for the chocoholics as it contains cocoa,nutella and chocolate chips.
There can never be an overdose of chocolate for the chocoholics..Isn't it??

I followed the recipe featured here.

Ingredients:

Self Raising Flour - 1 1/2 cup

Ground Hazelnuts - 1/2 cup

Cocoa powder-1/3 cup

Sugar -1/3 cup

Melted Butter - 60 grams

Chocolate Chips -1/2 cup

Nutella -1/2 cup

Milk -3/4 cup

Sour cream -1/2 cup

Egg - 1 lightly beaten

Method:

Preheat the oven to 400deg F. 

In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar.

Add in the nutella, egg, milk, sour cream and butter. Gently stir to combine.

Stir in the  chocolate chips. Spoon the mixture into a prepared muffin tray.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.