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​Quick & Easy Vegetarian recipes
​for the busy you !

Pecan Oatmeal Choc Chip Cookies

7/12/2017

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A friend of mine from my secondary school, June, gave me a great recipe for a basic choc chip cookie recently. Choc chip cookies are what even an amateur cook will be able to bake. I mean its such a basic recipe. But to some, like me, I like my cookies soft and chewy in the center and crispy on the outside and to get a perfect texture in a cookie like that is not easy. I tried Martha Stewart's recipe but my cookies turned out flat like pancakes! Literally - I'm not exaggerating. So when June had posted in her FB account her recently baked choc chip cookies and they all looked like my preferred version, I immediately requested her recipe. Thanks darling - its a very simple quick recipe even kids can attempt!

​I was very surprised that it didn't involve any creaming of butter and sugar or whipping. There was just a lot of mixing which is my fav kind of recipes :) But I did reduce the sugar and the choc chips to suit my family's tastebuds. And because I like texture in my cookies, I added oats and pecans. 

Ingredients (around 30 cookies)
​Ingredients A
​1 cup melted butter
1/2 tbsp vanilla essence
​2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup brown sugar

Ingredients B
​3 cups plain flour
​1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans
​1 cup semi-sweet choc chips 

Method
​1) Mix all the ingredients A and whisk them well.
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2) Then, add in all the dry ingredients B. Mix together.
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3) Use a 1 tbsp measuring spoon to scoop out and place the cookie dough in rows of 3 on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
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4) Bake in a preheated oven at 180 deg C for 20-25 mins. 
5) Enjoy soft chewy healthier choc chip cookies!
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Super Skinny Banana Oat Prune Squares

2/21/2017

2 Comments

 
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The inspiration for this recipe came from the many recipes for bars and squares that i recently chanced upon. My sister makes a great granola bar. I will post the recipe soon for that. I used prunes, chopped into bits, instead of the dates which are used in many versions. The squares tasted a little bland because they are really super skinny - no eggs, no butter and no oil whatsoever. And there is no added sugar too. Only the sugars from the banana and the prunes. Hence, if you prefer, add 1/2 cup of brown sugar when mixing.

​I just bought a bunch of these lovely dotted purple orchids and I simply had to show them off in my photos!! Aren't they captivating? :) 
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Ingredients (for 16 squares)
​2 large very ripe bananas, mashed to liquid form with no lumps
​2 cups of rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped prunes
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp salt to balance the flavor (optional)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

​Method
​1) Preheat the oven to 180 deg C or 350 F. Gather all the ingredients. From left, chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon, salt, oats, vanilla essence, mashed bananas and lastly chopped prunes. As you can see, I have used instant oats (I only had those at home) but rolled oats will give a crunchier bitier squares. Do add 1/2 cup brown sugar if you prefer sweeter squares.

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2) Oil a square baking dish wth olive oil. Then get a mixing bowl and mix the bananas and vanilla essence first.
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3) Then add in the oats. Mix well and then add in the other ingredients.
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4) It would form a big lump by now. Flatten this lump into the oiled square baking dish. Use your hands if necessary. Flattening like this is important so that we can cut into neat squares after baking.
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5) Bake in the preheated oven for 30-45 mins till the edges are brown and crisp. Cut them into squares while still warm.
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6) Enjoy these Skinny Banana Oat Prune Squares without any guilt. Have it as a snack or with your coffee or tea.
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2 Comments

Easy Cornflake Cookies

11/10/2016

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I had a taste of these delicious cookies in my brother's place years ago. Seeing my enjoyment, my sis in law Jenny gave me a whole container to take back home. It didn't last very long at my place!! Using only a few ingredients, cornflake cookies are one of the easiest cookies to bake.

I hadn't celebrated Diwali the last two years due to my upheavel to America and back. So, this year I did the whole works - murukkus, sujee cookies, cornflake cookies, marble cakes and henna art on my hands and my girls', kolam and tea lights at the front door and shopping for simple Indian outfits for myself and girls...inviting family and friends for Diwali lunch and another lunch for my close friends. It was tiring no doubt but was quite fulfilling. I wanted my girls to have lovely lasting memories of Diwali. So, when they look back in years to come, wherever in the world they may be, they would remember Diwali at home fondly.

​Ingredients (to make aound 30-40 cookies)
200gm butter
150gm sugar (this amount of sugar is fine - its not too sweet)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
300 gm all purpose flour
30 gm cornflour
​60gm cornflakes, crushed coarsely

Method
  1. ​Preheat the oven to 350deg F or 180 deg C.
  2. ​Beat butter and sugar till pale and creamy , roughly 10 mins.
  3. Add in vanilla essence.​
  4. While still beating, add in the beaten eggs one at a time.
  5. ​Mix both the flours and then fold them in.
  6. ​Scoop out about 1 tsp of the cookie dough and roll into the crushed cornflakes. Do not mix the cornflakes into the dough! That's what I did first time round to save time and effort and the cornflakes became soft when the cookies were cooked. It didn't give a crunchy cookie effect. 
  7. ​Transfer to a cookie baking tray and bake for 20-25 mins till golden brown.  

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Easy Shortbread Wedges

7/18/2015

2 Comments

 
Using only 3 ingredients, these decadent shortbread wedges can be prepared under an hour!! Needless to say, it is one of the easiest cookies I have baked and the results were quite appealing.

Enjoy them on their own or topped with Strawberry Lemon Compote ( my next recipe) for an extra delish dessert.

Ingredients (for 8 wedges of 8 inch circle baking pan)

1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar (or icing sugar)

Method
Preheat your oven to 300deg F or 150deg C.
Cream butter in a mixing bowl and then add flour and sugar. Remember don't over mix otherwise, it will become too soft. If it does, place the bowl in the fridge for 10 mins.
Pat onto the pan and crimp the edges with a fork.
Bake for 30-35 mins till the edges start browning.
Take the pan out from the oven and immediately cut into 8 wedges while still in the pan.
Let it cool completely before serving.

 



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2 Comments

Almond Oat Cookies

3/13/2015

7 Comments

 
Almond meal or ground almond adds a beautiful flavor to cookies and cakes. I discovered this while experimenting with cakes. Whatever quantity you have for flour, substitute half of it with ground almond. You'll be blown away by the end results!!

Makes about 20, 2 inch cookies.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tbsp water

1/4 tsp salt

2tsp vanilla essence

 1/2
cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup oats (any kind)

2 cups ground almond


1tsp baking powder

Slivered almonds for decoration

Method 
Preheat the oven to 375 deg F. Get two baking trays ready.

Whisk the  first 5 ingredients for a few minutes.
Add the flour, oats,  ground almond and the baking powder.

Mix thoroughly and then r
oll them into balls, flatten and shape them in to 2 inch cookies on your palms and place them on the baking trays. If you are unable to shape into cookies, probably the batter is too dry. Add a bit more oil and try again.
Decorate with 2 slivered almonds per cookie.


Bake for 12-15 mins. Check the bottom of the cookies, if golden brown, time to remove them from the oven.

Enjoy while they last!!

Note : you can substitute the ground almond with ground hazelnut instead too! Then it will be called Hazelnut Oat Cookies :))


Have fun baking !

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7 Comments

No Bake, No Refrigeration and No Heating Energy Bites

1/24/2015

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Full of flavor and bursting with nutrition, these energy bites will keep you going throughout your day.

Ingredients ( Makes 25 of 1.5 inch bites)

1 cup oats, ground

1/2 cup flaxseed toasted and ground

1/2 cup Peanut Butter, any variety

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp Vanilla Essence

Choc Chips for garnishing

Method

Put everything in a mixing bowl and combine with fingers for better mixing.

Then take s small amount, roll into a ball and flatten the bite on your palm.

Place it on a baking tray and garnish with Choc chip in the center.

Make the rest of the dough in the same way. It turns out rather gooey not like a crisp cookie.

I am just experimenting on this, so I am not sure how long they will last in room temperature. Will update you soon!

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Easy No Bake Cookies
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Wholesome Chocoholic Walnut Cookies

12/30/2014

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These heart healthy Choc chip cookies are so easy to bake and so delicious to devour!

No eggs and no additional milk and no butter were used in these cookies.

Makes about 20, 2 inch cookies.

Ingredients :

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup canola or any good veg oil.

1 tbsp water

1/4 tsp salt

2tsp vanilla essence

Mix all these in a bowl first.

Then add the following ingredients.

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup oats (any kind)

1tsp baking powder

1/3 cup walnuts

1/3 cup Choc chips

Mix till fully incorporated. Roll them into balls, flatten and shape them on your palms and place on greased baking trays.

Bake at 375 deg F for 12-15 mins.

Enjoy while they last!!
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    Hi guys! I have shared my dishes here for you to cook for your own family with love and most importantly with their long term good health in mind. 
    Bon Appetit!

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