Whole Wheat Bread

Have you too always read Enid Blytons and been fascinated and tempted by the phrase "Freshly baked bread tomato sandwiches with ....". Well then here is the recipe for making that freshly baked home made bread.



Ingredients-


·         Whole wheat flour – 3cups/18 heaped tsps

·         Readymade dry yeast – 1stp

·         Salt -1/2 tsp

·         Honey – 2 tbsp

·         Egg yolk – 1 no

·         Water at room temp/ luke warm – 240 ml

·         Butter – 3 tsp


Method –

1.       Blend the water, yeast, flour, butter, egg yolk, honey, salt in a mixer at a very slow speed for about 5 mins

2.       If the dough is too sticky add a bit more of flour and mix again.

3.       Take out the dough and put in a vessel, cover it with a plastic bag and leave it for 2 hours.

4.       After two hours, knead all the air out of the dough and then fold it inwards a couple of times.

5.       Shape in the form of an elongated log and put it in the baking tin you plan to use

6.       Leave it in the fridge overnight covered in plastic of course.

7.       If the weather is cool, like around 12-15 degrees C then you can skip step 6 and leave the dough covered in plastic bag overnight

8.       The dough should rise and double its size. If it hasn’t, keep it out for 2 hrs.

9.       Preheat the over at 190 degrees C for 10 mins

10.   Bake the dough for 35 mins at 190 degrees.

11.   Take it out of the mold and let it cool

12.   Your whole wheat freshly baked bread it ready to serve

Date Kheer- have a date!

This is a very simple and easy recipe to make Khajoor or Date Kheer. It can be whipped up in a matter of minutes especially if you feel like dessert after a meal or have guests.
Ingredients-
-Dates(Khajoor)- 20 nos unseeded
-Ghee- 3tsps
- Sugar- 1 tsp (optional)
- milk-1 cup
Method-
1. Chop the dates lengthwise into thin slices
2. Soak them in half a cup of milk and keep aside for 10 mins
3. In a pan heat the ghee
4. Remove the dates from the milk and fry them in the ghee for about 5 mins on low flame.
5. Add the sugar. This step is optional.
6. Add all the milk and simmer on low flame for 10 mins.
7. Serve hot or cold as you like.

Tangily yours - Tomato Salad

This is one salad that will definitely add some tang to the table. Its really simple to make and is super refreshing. Just perfect for the summer.
Ingredients :

• Tomatoes- 3-4 large ones 
• Green Chillies - 2nos cut into large pieces
• Coriander - finely chopped. Alternatively you can use parsley 
• Garlic Cloves - 1-2 finely chopped
• Peanut powder - 2 tsp (it is finely ground roasted peanuts)
• Salt to taste
• Sugar - 1 tsp 
• Pepper - 1/2 tsp 
• Vinegar- 1/2 tsp

Method :

• Chop the tomatoes into cubes 
•  Add the green chillies, garlic cloves, sugar, vinegar, coriander, peanut powder, pepper to the chopped tomatoes 
• Mix it well 
•  Chill for around 20 mins
• Add the salt just before you serve. 
• Serve chilled. 

Egg Rolls

While I am on the healthy snack eating spree, let me give you one more recipe. This is not exactly a diet recipe, but its definitely healthier than readymade rolls and sandwiches

Ingredients-

• Chapatti - 2nos (whole wheat Indian bread)
• Mayonnaise or Table Butter - 1 tsp (optional)
• Onion -1 no
• Boiled Eggs -2 nos
• Pepper
• Salt to taste
• Oil -1/2 tsp
• Tomato Ketchup

Method -

• Slice the onion into long pieces
• Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onions till golden brown
• Next heat the chapatti on a pan/tava
• Spread a bit of mayonnaise/butter on the chappati
• Slice the eggs into small pieces. Optionally you can also use the egg whites only and leave out the yellow
• Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the eggs
• Put the sliced eggs on the chapatti 
• Put the sliced fried onions on it
• Roll the chapatti and then heat on the flat pan/tava for 30 seconds
• Serve hot with ketchup

Tip: For Vegetarians you may substitute the boiled eggs with boiled mashed potatoes. 

Healthwise Salad Rolls

Here's an interesting snack for all those who are on a perpetual diet (like me) but still love to snack.
It has all the diet buzz words -its  low cal, tasty, easy to make and filling.

Ingredients-
Rotis/Chapatis - 2 nos preferably whole wheat
Lettuce leaves -3-4 (any kind of lettuce will do, I prefer Iceberg lettuce)
Tomatoes -1 no
Cucumber - 1 no
Low Fat Yogurt/Dahi - 2 tsps
Pepper -1/4th tsp
Chaat Masala(optional) -1/2 tsp
Salt  to taste

Preparation -

• Tear the lettuce leaves into small pieces. I prefer to tear them rather than cut them with a knife. 
• Dice the tomato and cucumber into small cubes
• Mix the yogurt/dahi, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste
• Take one chapati and put this mixture in it.
• Roll it 

Presto! You have a healthy low cal snack that wont give you nightmares about the weighing scale! Enjoy munching!