Apple- cinnamon bread

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour (can be half whole wheat pastry flour)

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon pdr.

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp  salt

2 cups apple grated (peels and cores removed)  ( or finely diced apples, i.e. what I used )

2 large eggs

3/4 cup plain non-fat  yoghurt

1/4 cup  oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.  Coat one  pan with cooking spray. 

2.  In large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, , nutmeg, soda, baking powder,cinnamon and salt with a wire whisk.  Keep aside.  

3.  In another bowl, combine apple, eggs, yoghurt , oil, and lemon juice.  Stir to combine.  Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir until JUST COMBINED.  Don't over-mix!  

4.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan,   and bake for approx 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.  Let rest in pan for 10 minutes then remove to cooling rack to cool completely.

This quick bread tastes better the next day, though we ate some hot from the oven, as anything baked is irresistible, isn't it ? This bread, if one wants to keep longer than 2 days, best keep it covered in the fridge, in case it lasts !

Easy Coffee Cake

Ingredients

brown sugar 2cups

maida/ all purpose flour  2 cups

butter 3/4 cup

baking soda 1 tsp

hot coffee 1 cup ( Ised 2 tsp of instant coffee pdr for 1 cup)

egg 1

vanilla essence 2 tsp

Method

mix brown sugar, flour & butter well, may look lumpy, no problem. 

keep aside 1 cup of the flour mixture

dissolve baking soda in hot coffee & add to the flour mixture with egg & vanilla essence.

mix quickly, not over mix.

pre-heat oven to 180 deg/ C/ 320 gas mark.

pour batter on a greased dish/ tray, sprinkle the kept aside flour mixture on top.

bale for 30 min. at 180 deg. C, then reduce heat to 160 deg. C till baked. i.e., insert the knife in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean, then it is done.

To be frank, never thought that it will come out well. It was very soft, with the flour mixture & sugar spread on top, gave it a bit of crunchy feeling ! But next time, if I bake it, then would prefer to press the flour & sugar mixture a bit down, so it may get little melted also.

crochet- cot bumper

 

3 pairs of cot bumpers made for my grandson

Cheesy Carrot Onion Casserole

Ingredients

2 cups carrots, sliced thick

1 cup onion, diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 stick butter

3 Tbsp flour

2 cups milk

1/2 pound processed cheese, cubed

1 cup buttered bread crumbs

Method

Place a little amount of water in the bottom of a large 

saucepan. Place the saucepan over high heat. Add the 

carrots, onions, celery, salt and sugar and mix together well. 

Bring water to a steady boil. Continue boiling 6 minutes or 

just until the carrots begin to tender. Drain well in a 

colander. Place the stick of butter into a saucepan over 

medium heat and allow the butter to completely melt. Stir in 

the flour and continue stirring until the flour and butter begin 

to bubble. Pour in the milk and stir to combine. Carefully 

fold in the cheese cubes. Continue cooking over low heat, 

stirring continuously until the cheese has completely melted 

and the mixture is smooth. Turn the oven temperature to  

180 deg. C  and allow the oven to heat. Spray the sides and 

bottom of a large baking dish with a non stick cooking spray. 

Place the vegetables into the prepared baking dish. Pour the 

cheese sauce over the vegetables. Sprinkle the entire top 

with the bread crumbs. Bake 30 minutes or until the centre 

begins to bubble.

Savory Onion Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup butter, melted and cooled

1/2 cup sugar

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1  salt to taste

1 tbsp baking powder

3 cups flour

3 cups walnuts, coarsely chopped

4 medium onions, quartered

pepper pdr. to taste

Method

Preheat oven to 425. Grease muffin tin.

Purée the onions to a food processor. 

Take 2 cups of onion puree and place into a bowl. Add 

butter, sugar, eggs, salt, pepper pdr. and stir well.

Add the baking powder and flour and again, stir well until 

smooth. Gently stir in walnuts.

Spoon the muffin mixture into the muffin tin and bake for 

about 20 minutes or until cooked through. Leave the muffins 

to cool down for about 10 minutes, then put them on a wire 

rack to cool completely.