3 MINUTE MICROWAVE CORNBREAD

When I first found this little recipe, promising fresh corn bread in 3 minutes, I thought "no way". I'm here to tell you "yes way"...it is excellent!! You won't get the brown crunchy part of corn bread that a lot of people love, but the taste and texture is surprisingly good and when you weigh the benefits of serving hot corn bread in 3 minutes, well...I will definitely be using this recipe often!!
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup milk
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup white flour
½ cup corn meal
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt

Mix everything with a whisk and pour into a greased microwave safe baking dish. I used a 6½ x 6½ x 2 baking dish. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. If your microwave doesn't have a carousel, then manually rotate the dish half way through the cooking cycle. NOTE: I used a 1000 watt microwave and it took exactly 3 minutes. If your microwave is different than that, you may have to adjust the cooking time.

NOTE: I used cooking spray inside of the baking dish and the cooked corn bread removed very easily.

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Rich Chocolate Almond Tea Cake

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I wanted to prepare chocolate truffles but the chocolate seemed to be too rich with cocoa flavor with a mild bitter taste which didnt suit us so I modified it to make a rich chocolate cake.It came out very well and it is also my first chocolate cake !!

I was pleasantly surprised I didnt have to throw it away n could make another dish that balanced the bitterness of cocoa powder n its tasty too for chocolate lovers like my hubby.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz unsweetened chocolate bar (Bakers Brand)
• 1/2 cup grounded almond
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds (optional)

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Baking procedure

Preheat oven 350 F.

Break the chocolate into pieces n melt it with almond n vanilla extract in a bowl set over sauce pan of hot water. Stir until well blended. Now add butter to it n stir till it melts.

Mix all purpose flour with baking powder, baking soda n grounded almonds nicely.

In another bowl beat the eggs and sugar for 3 min with a hand blender with medium speed till it become fluffy.Then add oil,milk and again blend till it all mix nicely.Then chocolate sauce to it n stir with spatula.

Take the flour and slowly add to the above mixture and stir till it blends properly .This can done with hand blender or even with a spatula.

Pour it into a well graeased 9x5 inch loaf pan n bake for 30 min. check with a toothpick if it doesnt stick its ready.

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Serve with a cup of coffee or tea.

I am sending this chocolate almond tea cake to

Champa's Bake off event

Chocolate Dreams hosted by Shabitha

EFM - Bakes and Cakes Series hosted by Srilekha

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Tags: Chocolate cake, cake, tea

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Magic With Cottage Cheese ( Paneer )

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Paneer is such a versatile ingredient there is no limitation to use it. I have a big crush on paneer and whenever I come across any new variety with paneer I bookmark it without second thought. Because of this habit when I saw this paneer stuffed okra on my darling friend Aipi's blog n paneer kachori on another wonderfull blogger friend Santosh I was determined to try them very soon. And I did it !!

I thank them both for sharing these wonderfull recipes. My crush with paneer will continue for ever : )

Paneer Kachori

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp corn flour
• 1/2 cup grated paneer
• 1 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves
• 3 tbsp grated carrot
• 3 finely chopped chilli
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• salt to taste
• oil for deep fry

Mix all the above ingredient except oil nicely then add 1/4 cup or less water to make a elastic n silky smooth dough.Divide the dough into 10 balls and with a rolling pin shape them into circles of 3-4 inch diameter.

Heat oil in a fry pan, once hot drop one puri at a time and let if puff. Make sure both the sides are golden brown before you remove from oil.

Serve hot with a cup of tea.

Paneer Stuffed Okra

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Ingredients:

• 15 to 20 medium size okra
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup diced tomato
• pinch of hing
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp oil

For Stuffing

• 1/2 cup grated cottage cheese (paneer)
• 1 tsp coriander powder (dhania)
• 1/4 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp amchur powder (dry mango powder)
• 1/4 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp chopped cilantro
• salt to taste

Cooking Procedure

Wash the okra n pat it dry then n trim the edges and slit on one side lengthwise n keep aside.

Mix all the ingredients of stuffing with 1/2 tsp oil n stuff 1 tsp per okra.

Arrange the stuffed okra on a microwave safe plate, drizzle some oil n cook in microwave for 4 min on high.

In the meantime heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan, add onions,turmeric powder n hing n stir for 2 min. Then add the cooked okra to the onion mixture, sprinkle some salt n let it cook for 2 min. Stir occasionally n then add diced tomato n remaining stuffing if available. Mix softly n let them cook for 2 more min. You stuffed okra is ready.

Serve with rice or roti or as a filling for tortilla wraps.

I am sending both these recipes to

BB7 - Iron Chef hosted by Nupur

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Tags: Paneer, Cottage cheese, Paneer Bharwan Bhindi, Paneer Kachori

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