Fig & Banana Smoothie | Fresh Fig & Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Let me get this straight. Am not back, officially am not back... I need time and I am taking a break. As many of you know I have moved to the U.S and managing the kid, the jetlag, the home improvement cum maintenance and food for our tummies is really becoming a pain in the a**. And trying to squeeze in blogging is totally out of question and so I have decided to go on a break. I might post a recipe then and there but donot expect them on a regular interval. Lets see when things are gonna straighten out, hopefully it does and I am looking forward to continue blogging as before. Till then ciao, and don't forget to visit my old recipes. Lots of love...

Coming on the recipe, I have a lot of recipes in my draft, mostly cooked by amma and so am planning to publish them as and when time permits. And this is one among them. She whips this whenever we are out of breakfast ideas and when we have fresh figs in the pantry. Bananas are a staple and they undoubtedly go into any smoothie recipes for us. But you can replace them or totally ignore them. Try this when u are out of time for an energy packed smoothie.

~*What U Need*~ Fresh Figs - 3 Ripe Banana - 1 Cold milk - 2 cups Honey - to taste Water - to bring to desired consistency Nuts to serve How I Made it: Peel and chop the figs. Chop the bananas. Add all the ingredients except the nuts in a blender and blend till smooth.

Serve chilled!!!

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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Beaten Rice / Poha Cereal... a wholesome breakfast | Poha Recipes

I am always on the lookout or rather say "hunt" for easy and healthy breakfast recipes. We usually prefer oatmeal / sathu maavu kanji (a homemade protein powder... recipe coming soon) / wholewheat sandwiches to the regular dosas/idlis /aapams. So easy protein packed breakfast recipes are something that always fall under my search list.
I have adapted this recipe from my SIL, tweaked it by giving my own touches. SIL who is from Tenkasi, Tamilnadu prefers to have this as her boost-up snack. I have seen her eating poha soaked in sweetened milk whenever she feels hungry, says its best when compared to the fried snacks. And I agree to that. This recipe is kinda hybrid to hers.

~*What U Need*~
Poha / Beaten rice - 1 cup
Water - few sprinkles

Ripe Banana - 1
Walnuts, cashews, almonds - as needed
Dates - few
Dried figs - 1 or 2
Milk - 1 cup
Sugar/Honey - to taste(optional)

How I Made it:
Clean the poha. Sprinkle some water and mix well till all the granules are soaked well. Rest for half an hour.
Mix sugar with milk. I usually skip the sugar as the banana itself adds sweetness. When serving, place the poha in a bowl, top it with mashed banana, nuts, dates and figs. Add milk, allow to rest for 10 mins, give it a stir and then serve.

...wholesome and satisfying breakfast.

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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A comeback, wishes, 'nd a cake ~Fruit Cake / Christmas Plum Cake

...118 days or 3 months 27 days or 16 weeks. Wondering what this is all about. Well, I have been away from the blogging world for an approx of 4 months and I would say that it was for a good reason. I had loved and hated this break as well. Hate as I had to stop doing one thing that I most loved and love.. well lets come back to that later.

So dears, hows it going with all of you. Hope everything is good with everyone... and thanks to all my dear friends who stayed in touch with me when I was away. U guys were one reason that I missed blogging.
Hope you welcomed the new year with utmost joy and had a great time celebrating the day. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU GUYS...

I am hoping to blog frequently here on but lets just see how everything happens... So now to the reason why I was away for such a long time. I am so happy to tell all you guys that me and huss are waiting for the arrival of our little angel in another 4 months. The past months have been so tiring with all the morning sickness and dizziness but in addition to that was taking in every second of the happiness of motherhood and all the pampering that I received. It was only this month that I visited the kitchen properly ...let alone cooking. So it was just dosas and chutneys / upmas, nothing special or new. But then with Christmas and new year, I wanted to make my way back, the original me who baked, tried and fried. What best than with the traditional Christmas fruit cake / plum cake.

I had intended to bake the cake on Christmas but moved the plans for New Year as huss's friends were showing up and so baked this for them.
Verdict from the men:
Soft, moist, fruity and truly addictive.

~*What U Need*~
For caramel water:
Sugar - 1/4 cup
Water - 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp

For the cake:
All purpose flour - 1 cup
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Butter - 1/2 cup
Dried fruits - 1 cup (chopped dates, tutti frutti, black raisins, dried grapes, dried figs)
Dried nuts - 1/2 cup (toasted and chopped almonds, cashews and walnuts
Eggs - 2
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Salt - a huge pinch
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Rum/Brandy/Red Wine - 1/2 cup

How I Made it:
In a non-stick pan, add sugar and 1 tbsp of water at low flame. Warm 1/2 cup of water. When the sugar turns light brown to dark add the water slowly. Be careful when adding in the water. It splutters so maintain a distance from the pan. Shake and keep aside. Let it cool completely.

Soak dried fruits in red wine for 1 -2 days. I did it for 1 week.

Lets Bake:
Grease the cake pan and place buttered parchment paper in the base alone.
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs and again beat. Combine caramel water, vanilla extract, garam masala, salt and beat well

Sift APF, baking soda and baking powder thrice.

Add this to the wet ingredients and fold in together. Strain the dry fruits from the juice. Fold in the dry fruits.
Pour the batter into the pan.
Mix the dry nuts with 1 tbsp flour. Spread the nuts on the top of the batter.
Bake at 180°C in a pre-heated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until the tester comes out clean.
Cool completely. Insert the knife in the edges of the cake to loosen it. Invert it on a wire rack. At this stage, the cake will be sticky.

Slice and enjoy.

So thats it Folks...
With Love,

Signs off!!!

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