Dates Cake

This recipe is similar to banana bread recipe I posted few months back. I just substituted 1 cup soaked dates for banana.
Recipe:
Pan Cake mix (Bisquic or Trader Joes Multigrain Pancake mix) – 2.25 Cups
Sugar – half cup (I used turbinado raw sugar)
Dates - 1 cup soaked in 1 cup boiling water
Nuts sliced – half cup - I use Walnuts
Egg – 3 full
Vanilla essence – 1 spoon (Optional)
Oil – ¼ cup (any vegetable oil or Olive Oil)

* Mix oil, sugar, egg in a bowl using a blender
* Grind the soaked dates with the same water in mixie and add to the above.
* Add the baking flour(I used multigrain pancake mix from Trader Joes)
* Finally add the nuts and mix well.
* Preheat oven in Bake - 350F
* Add the mixed batter in a greased oven safe container
* Bake for 40 to 45mins, by checking with a tooth pick to see if it is done.
* Yummy Dates Cake is ready to serve!!!!

Rasmalai

Recently I have been making paneer frequently at home, hence the temptation to make this recipe and I liked it with less sugar, custom made! More pictures...Rasmalai
Recipe:
* Home made paneer like handful, knead well. I used food processor for kneading.
* Make small vada shapes with balls sized like U do for jamoons.
* Add 5 cups water and 1 cup sugar to a flat base cooker and let it melt
* And then add the paneer vadas and pressure cook for 1 whistle and medium flame 10mins.
* In the meantime, boil 1.5litres milk in another non-stick or thick bottom vessel
* Let it boil till it reduces half, add little saffron, elachi and 12 to 16 tablespoons sugar.
* Then add nuts if you like almonds or pistachios coarsely chopped, turn off.
* Gently squeeze the paneer vadas from the cooker to remove the syrup and then add to the above milk.
* Let it cool and move it to fridge. Serve cold!!!!

Koyil Puliyodharai (Tamarind Rice)

Have been wanting to try this for a while, here we go for more pictures...Koyil Puliyodharai
Recipe:
* For the powder, one spoon each of channa dhaal, urad, dhania, sesame and
   little methi seeds with 2 red chillies.
* Dry fry and let it cool and grind to a dry powder
* Soak a lemon sized ball of tamarind in water (mine was on the higher side)
* Squeeze the tamarind and take the water and mix with the ground powder.
* Add like 5spoons of oil to a tava and then add mustard, urad, channa dhaal, roasted peanuts
* Then add turmeric, asafoetida, 3 red chillies, curry leaves
* Add the tamarind + powder mixed water and 2 tablespoons salt or more as per your taste.
* Let it boil for 10mins or so, add 1 spoon jaggery and let is cook for few mins
* Turn off and add to cooked rice as many spoons of this paste as needed.

Veggie Pakora

Great snack for winter time, very nice flavor due to the powder...good way to use your little veggies...
More pictures...Veggie Pakoras
Recipe:
* Dry grind little dhania, ajwain(omam) and big jeera
* Thin slices of any veggie U like and mix the above powder, besan flour, chilli powder and salt.
* Deep fry and serve hot!!!
Veggies I used :
* Shredded pack of carrots and broccoli slaw from Trader Joes
* Thin strips of fresh paneer, spinach, green onions, color peppers, potato, onion
Yummy Yum it was!!!