Chocolate Sesame Whole Wheat Wreath Bread

I simply love giving the Daring baker challenges a purely chocolate make over.


The 2010 December Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Penny of Sweet Sadie’s Baking. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make Stollen. She adapted a friend’s family recipe and combined it with information from friends, techniques from Peter Reinhart’s book.........and Martha Stewart’s demonstration.


The concluding challenge of the year couldn't have been more delicious.Stollen is a rich Holiday bread,or should I say cake,with all its deliciously packed sweet, nutty, fruity and zesty flavors.I choose to call mine bread since I lessened the sweetness and the texture is dense with use of whole wheat flour.More than the richly dark chocolate what stands out the most of the flavors,is the orange zest,so please do not skip this important ingredient for the added zing to this sensational bread.




Recipe :Chocolate Sesame Whole Wheat Wreath Bread
Makes one medium wreath Serves 5-6 people

Ingredients
For Bread Dough
1/4 cup lukewarm water (110º F / 43º C)
1 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 cup Skimmed Organic milk
4 tablespoons unsalted Organic butter or virgin pressed coconut oil or Pure Ghee
2 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup Pure cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 large Organic eggs, lightly beaten
Grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon (5 ml) lemon extract or orange extract
2/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries or dried mixed fruit
3 tablespoons Orange juice
6 red glacé cherries or fresh cranberries(roughly chopped) for the color and the taste. (optional)
1/2 cup flaked almonds
For topping
2 tablespoon Pure Organic honey
2 tablespoon brown sesame seeds
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips(good quality - 60% cocoa)


Directions:
Soak the raisins
In a small bowl, soak the raisins in cold water (or in the orange juice from the zested orange) and set aside.

To make the dough

Pour warm water into a small bowl, sprinkle with yeast and let stand 5 minutes. Stir to dissolve yeast completely.

In a small saucepan, combine milk and butter over medium - low heat until butter is melted. Let stand until lukewarm, about 5 minutes.

Lightly beat eggs in a small bowl and add lemon and vanilla extracts.

In a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment), stir together the flour, cocoa powder,sugar, salt, cinnamon, orange and lemon zests.

Then stir in (or mix on low speed with the paddle attachment) the yeast/water mixture, eggs and the lukewarm milk/butter mixture. This should take about 2 minutes. It should be a soft, but not sticky ball. When the dough comes together, cover the bowl with either plastic or a tea cloth and let rest for 10 minutes.

Add in the mixed peel, soaked fruit and almonds and mix with your hands or on low speed to incorporate. Here is where you can add the cherries if you would like. Be delicate with the cherries or all your dough will turn red!

Sprinkle flour on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter, and begin kneading (or mixing with the dough hook) to distribute the fruit evenly, adding additional flour if needed. The dough should be soft and satiny, tacky but not sticky. Knead for approximately 8 minutes (6 minutes by machine). The full six minutes of kneading is needed to distribute the dried fruit and other ingredients and to make the dough have a reasonable bread-dough consistency. You can tell when the dough is kneaded enough – a few raisins will start to fall off the dough onto the counter because at the beginning of the kneading process the dough is very sticky and the raisins will be held into the dough but when the dough is done it is tacky which isn't enough to bind the outside raisins onto the dough ball.

Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling around to coat it with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
Put it in the fridge overnight. The dough becomes very firm in the fridge (since the butter goes firm) but it does rise slowly… the raw dough can be kept in the refrigerator up to a week and then baked on the day you want.

Shaping the Dough and Baking the Wreath

1. Let the dough rest for 2 hours after taking out of the fridge in order to warm slightly.
2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
3. Preheat oven to moderate 350°F/180°C/gas mark 4 with the oven rack on the middle shelf.
4. Punch dough down, roll into a rectangle about 8 x 12 inches and ¼ inch (6 mm) thick.


Starting with a long side, roll up tightly, forming a long, thin cylinder.
Transfer the cylinder roll to the sheet pan. Join the ends together, trying to overlap the layers to make the seam stronger and pinch with your fingers to make it stick, forming a large circle.
Using Sharp knife, make cuts along outside of circle, in 2-inch (5 cm) intervals, cutting 2/3 of the way through the dough.
Twist each segment outward, forming a wreath shape.Proof for approximately 2 hours at room temperature, or until about 1½ times its original size.
Drizzle with honey all over and sprinkle the sesame seeds,evenly covering the top of the wreath.

Bake
Bake the wreath for 20 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees for even baking and continue to bake for 20 to 30 minutes. The bread will bake to a dark mahogany color, should register 190°F/88°C in the center of the loaf, and should sound hollow when thumped on the bottom.

Chocolate Finishing
Melt the Chocolate chips over double broiler or in the microwave until completely melted and glossy.Drizzle all over the baked wreath.Cut and serve warm. When completely cool, store in a air tight container.The flavor intensifies the next day,makes a delicious treat with morning cuppa.



Peek in other Daring Bakers' take on the exquisite challenge.

Enjoy the rest of the Holidays.Will be back next year with an exciting giveaway.

Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Fruit Preserves

With holiday treats stocked in stores,I keep an eye out for new and easy cookie ideas during this time of the year.I happen to see this thumb print cookie tray in the store,with not so attractive or should I say complicated ingredient list.I just needed the recipe to experiment with my own healthier additions,which I thankfully could Google it up.
I mix Almond flour(fine ground raw almonds is equally good) with the wheat flour that gives a more hearty texture to the dough.And also the fresh cranberry preserves were the best match for the filling.All in all,an incredibly nutritious treat.

Recipe : Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Fruit Preserves
Makes a dozen
Ingredients
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup almond flour, or almond meal
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup pure cane sugar,divided(reserve a little to sprinkle on top)
4 tablespoons cold unsalted Organic butter(cut in pieces) or virgin pressed coconut oil or pure Ghee
1 large Organic egg, lightly beaten
2-3 tablespoon cold milk.
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup or little more of Home made Fruit Preserves(Cranberry,Cranberry Apple,Plum,Mango,Strawberry or Apricot)

Method
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Making dough by hand:
Whisk together sugar, flours and salt in a bowl.
Rub or cut the butter or other fat used ,into the sugar and flour mixture until it has the consistency of coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour and butter mixture and pour the beaten egg and vanilla extract into it.
Use a fork to incorporate the liquid into mixture and then use your fingertips.
Knead lightly just until the dough comes together into a ball.
Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.
With a food processor:
Put sugar, flour, and salt in the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times to mix.Add butter and pulse a few times until the mixture has the consistency of coarse meal.Empty food processor's bowl onto your work surface.
Make a well in the center of the mounded flour and butter mixture and pour the beaten egg and vanilla extract into it.Use a fork to incorporate the liquid into the solid ingredients then use your fingertips.Knead lightly just until the dough comes together into a ball.Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes

Shape the Cookies
Roll the dough into a circle about 1/2 inch thick,cut in circles using a cookie cutter about 2 inches along diameter.Press each circle using thumb to make a light indentation into the top.Sprinkle a little sugar all over the cookies.Place them on a cookie sheet.Drop 1/4 teaspoon of jam into each indentation. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes,top is lightly golden brown. Cool and serve.



These Thumbprint cookies are my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #264,hosted this week by Haalo from Cook (almost) Anything

Captivating Cranberry Recipes and Cranberry Upma

Unlike most berries ,cranberries are very lightly sweet but really tart,that makes it a better addition in savory dishes cause making a dessert would mean adding a lot more sugar to balance the tartness.Not that I haven't tried it in a Sweet recipe,some of my favorites are :

Cranberry Apple pie ,
Cranberry Creme brulee ,
Chocolate Cake with Cranberries and Pomegranates,
Cranberry preserves,
Berry Green Smoothie,
Pomegranate Cranberry Plunge, and
Cranberry bread(same is good for making muffins)

But I love them better in savory dishes :

Cranberry Chicken Satay,
Cranberry Falafel ,
Cranberry Lentils ,
Cranberry Chicken,
Cranberry Salsa,
Cranberry Sauce
Almond Cranberry Crusted Wild Salmon
and Cranberry Lamb(recipe not posted yet)


Cranberry Upma
A flavorful South Indian breakfast dish,Upma is not a favorite in my family, that was until I prepared Upma with touch of tangy cranberries.Sure enough Upma got the uplift it needed with the despicably delicious cranberries,my family simply loved the combination of spicy and tangy, which means I could make it more often for our special weekend breakfasts as long as the cranberries are in the market.

Upma needs some special ingredients like mustard seeds,curry leaves,turmeric and fine semolina(Suji Rava) that are exclusively available in Asian or India stores.
For cranberry upma do not mix the berries while the Upma is cooking unless you like the upma pinkish red in color.I saute berries separately and top on Upma before serving,that also retains most juiciness of berries.And if cranberries are not available in your part of the world,then a fresh squeeze of lemon juice over the Upma at the end of cooking process could be the next best substitute.


Recipe
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Fine Semolina (Suji Rava)
1/2 a medium onion,finely chopped
1 plum red tomato,finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon Canola oil or vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon black Mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon Ginger root,grated
2-3 small green chillies,chopped(or skip chillies and use 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup fresh or frozen Cranberries
1 cup Vegetables (Carrots finely chopped and peas)

Method
Heat pan on medium heat and roast rava by stirring occasionally until aromatic and lightly browned,keep an eye as it can burn easily.
In a deep sauce pan or Kadai/Wok ,heat the oil on medium high heat and add mustard seeds,onions,curry leaves,cumin and saute for 2-3 minutes. Then add ginger, green chillies and turmeric ,cook another minute before adding tomatoes.Now cover and cook for 2-3 minutes until tomatoes are tender,then add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil.Add vegetables and salt,then add the roasted semolina while constantly stirring(important! or the Upma could get lumpy).Reduce heat to medium low,cover and let cook for 3-4 minutes.
Meanwhile heat a teaspoon of oil in a pan and add the cranberries,saute for 2-3 minutes just until tender but not bleeding or mushy.Keep aside.
To serve ,transfer upma in a serving dish and top with sauteed cranberries.For individual portions in a bowl shape as in the picture,lay the berries on the bottom of a bowl,top with upma and lightly press,flip slowly in a serving plate.

Cranberry Upma is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #263,hosted this week by Huan ofEat.Read.Live

Roasted Pumpkin Farro Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Farro(pronounced FAHR-oh)is one the oldest grains,originally found in Middle East and now grown mainly in Italy.Pearled Farro is incredibly easy to prepare.It is a good source of Protein and Iron.In the following recipe I use left over pumpkin puree from a roasted pumpkin and use it while cooking the farro for added nutrition of pumpkins.Stuffed in mildly spicy Poblanos,this is one remarkably delicious appetizer.

Farro is sold in specialty stores and Health food stores.I got my pack from the local Costco retail store.




Recipe : Roasted pumpkin puree
Halve a medium pie pumpkin with a sharp knife.Remove all strings and seeds. Don't throw away the seeds. Wash and roast in oven ,great for munching or for baking.Place the pumpkin halves cut side down in a roasting pan along with a cup of water.Bake the pumpkin until tender, about 90 minutes.Scoop the flesh out of each pumpkin half.Puree in a food processor or blender. Store in Refrigerator for a week and use in baking or cooking.
Recipe :Roasted Pumpkin Farro Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Serves 3

Ingredients
1 cup Farro grain(I used the Earthly Delights brand)
6 large or medium Poblano peppers,hulled and seeded
1 cup roasted pumpkin puree(as in the recipe above)
1/2 medium onion,finely chopped
1 medium ripe tomato ,chopped
2 cloves garlic,chopped
1 teaspoon spice mix of choice(I used a combination of chili powder ,turmeric and cumin )
2 tablespoon any chopped herbs(cilantro or parsley)

Method
Prepare the Farro stuffing
Heat oil in a medium pan,add the onions ,garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes,add the spices , 2 cups of water.Bring to a boil,mix in the Farro ,cover and allow to cook until tender about 20-25 minutes on medium low heat ,occasionally stir it.
Stuff and Bake
Slightly cool before stuffing in the hallow peppers.Lay in a cast iron or bake proof dish ,bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes until peppers are tender and skin is lightly browned.Serve warm as appetizers or as a side dish.


This is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging ,hosted this week by Rachel ofThe Crispy Cook

Apple Cranberry Crostata(Tart) with Almond Barley Crust.

Daring Bakers were invited this month to bake an absolutely tantalizing Italian dessert called Crostata,tart that has sweet crust(pasta frolla),filled with either fruity,cheesy,creamy or savory ingredients.

My trial here has hearty multi grain\nut crust that includes nutritious almond and barley flour besides the whole some wheat flour.You can finely grind raw almonds to make the almond flour ,the barley and whole wheat pastry flour are available in Indian stores or health food stores or well-stocked supermarkets.The filling was fruity with a perfect balance of sweet red delicious apples and season's fresh tart Cranberries.All in all this was a much easier challenge,not to worry if you don't have a tart pan,a pie pan would be equally good.


The 2010 November Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Simona of briciole. She chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ to make pasta frolla for a crostata. She used her own experience as a source, as well as information from Pellegrino Artusi’s Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well.

Recipe : Apple Cranberry Crostata(Tart) with Almond Barley Flour Crust.

Ingredients
2 tablespoon pure cane sugar
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup almond flour, or almond meal, or coconut flour
1/2 cup whole-grain barley flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter(cut in pieces) or virgin pressed coconut oil or pure ghee
1 large Organic egg, lightly beaten
2-3 tablespoon cold milk.
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Fruit Filling
2 Red delicious apples,cored and chopped
1 1/2 cup cranberries
1 cup pure cane sugar


Method
Making the crust dough(Pasta Frolla) by hand:

Whisk together sugar, flours and salt in a bowl.
Rub or cut the butter or other fat used ,into the sugar and flour mixture until it has the consistency of coarse crumbs. You can do this in the bowl or on your work surface, using your fingertips or an implement of choice.
Make a well in the center of the flour and butter mixture and pour the beaten egg and vanilla extract into it.
Use a fork to incorporate the liquid into mixture and then use your fingertips.
Knead lightly just until the dough comes together into a ball.
Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for at least two hours. You can refrigerate the dough overnight.
With a food processor:
Put sugar, flour, and salt in the bowl of the food processor and pulse a few times to mix.Add butter and pulse a few times until the mixture has the consistency of coarse meal.Empty food processor's bowl onto your work surface.
Make a well in the center of the mounded flour and butter mixture and pour the beaten egg and vanilla extract into it.Use a fork to incorporate the liquid into the solid ingredients then use your fingertips.Knead lightly just until the dough comes together into a ball.
Shape the dough into a flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for at least two hours. You can refrigerate the dough overnight.

Prepare the Fruit filling
In a non reactive pan add 1/2 cup of water,sugar,apples and cranberries and let cook until soft about 20-25 minutes.Cool and process in a blender until smooth.Set aside.

Heat the oven to 375ºF [190ºC/gas mark 5].
Shape
Take the pasta frolla out of the fridge, unwrap it and cut away 1/4 of the dough. Reserve this dough to make the lattice or other fun shapes on top of the crostata. Refrigerate this dough while you work on the tart base.
To help roll the crostata dough, keep the dough on top of the plastic wrap that you had it wrapped in. This can help rolling the dough and can also help when transferring the dough to your pan. You can also use parchment paper for this. However, you can also roll the dough directly on a work surface if you prefer.
Lightly dust the top of the dough and your work surface (if you’re rolling directly on a work surface) with flour. Keep some flour handy to dust the dough as you go along.
If the dough is very firm, start by pressing the dough with the rolling pin from the middle to each end, moving the rolling pin by a pin's width each time; turn the dough 180 degrees and repeat; when it softens, start rolling.
Roll the dough into a circle about 1/8th inch (3 mm) thick.
If you used the plastic wrap or parchment paper as rolling surface, flip dough over the pan, centering it, and delicately press it all around so the corners are well covered. Peel away the plastic wrap.
Trim the excess dough hanging over the edges of the pan. Press the remaining dough around the border into the sides of the pan making sure the border is an even thickness all the way around.
Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork in several places.
Take out of the fridge the reserved pasta frolla you had cut away earlier. Roll it with your pin and cut into strips or use cookie cutters to make small shapes (this is not traditional, but it looks cute); or roll with your hands into ropes.
Spread prepared apple cranberry filling evenly over the bottom of the crostata.
Use the prepared strips or rolls of dough to make a lattice over the surface, or decorate with the cut shapes.
Bake
Put the tart in the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
After 25 minutes, check the tart and continue baking until the tart is of a nice golden hue. (Note: Every oven is different. In my oven it took 34 minutes to bake the tart until golden.)
When done, remove the tart from the oven and let cool. If you have used a tart pan with a removable bottom, then release the tart base from the fluted tart ring. Make sure the tart is completely cool before slicing and serving.


Check out more creative Crostata's at Daring Baker's Blog roll

Eid-ul-Adha Special :Cherry Tomatoes and Minced Lamb(Kheema Tamatar)

Happy Eid-ul-Adha!!

Any meat dish is the center of table during this Holiday.A recap of some classic I had shared in past :
Lamb Biryani
Hyderabadi Kachchi Lamb Biryani
Kheema Vegetable Sevia
Kofta Pulao
Low fat Kofta Curry
Lamb Kabouli
Green Kababs(Shami Kabab style)
Spinach Lamb
Hyderabadi Haleem
Mint Lamb Chops
Mutton Dopyaza(Lamb Onions)
Tomato Bredie

Eid special this year is Cherry Tomatoes and Minced Lamb(Kheema Tamatar),a juicy spicy side dish that would leave any meat-lover asking for more.I know meat is the attraction of this recipe,but what makes it even more special is the garden fresh Cherry tomatoes.I had a whopping good cherry tomato harvest from the vegetable patch,almost 3 pounds!.I love to snack on them or just add on any entree or side dish towards the end of cooking process,for a juicy tangy touch to the recipe.


Recipe : Cherry Tomatoes and Minced Lamb(Kheema Tamatar)
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pound Minced lamb\veal\Beef\goat(99.9% lean)
1/2 pound Cherry tomatoes
Handful of herbs(Fenugreek\Methi or cilantro or Mint)
1 small onion ,finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon hot chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon each of Garam Masala and Coriander Powder.
Whole spices 2 Cloves ,2 cardamom,1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon Extra virgin Olive oil or canola oil
3/4 teaspoon Salt

Method
Marinate the minced meat ,mix with all the spice besides the whole spices,greens and oil and set aside for about 15 minutes.
Heat oil in pressure cooker or a saucepan.Add the chopped onions,whole spices and saute until golden brown. Add the marinated meat ,chopped herbs,season with salt and stir until meat has no lumps. Add 1/2 cup of water and cover. Let cook for about 10-15 minutes in a pressure cooker or 30-40 minutes in a saucepan.Uncover and add the tomatoes,and cook just until tomatoes are slightly tender about 3-4 minutes.Garnish with more fresh herbs,serve with brown rice or whole grain flat bread(paratha\roti)


This is my entry for Mona's Bakrid Event

Pumpkin Seed Crusted Tuna

After hallowing a pumpkin,its seeds are simply too good to be thrown away ,the slimy seeds can be cleaned and roasted whole for a nutritious snack.Although there is a way to get the seeds off the shell,but I like to leave the shell on,that gets the crunch after roasting.I decided to create something new this season with the roasted seeds,by using it for a crust on fish fillet.I have tried and loved the almond crusted fish,the pumpkin one was light but just as appetizing.Feel free to use any kind of firm fish instead of Tuna.



Recipe : Pumpkin Seed Crusted Tuna
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 (4-ounce) Tuna Steaks or other firm fish like Salmon or Tilapia
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon spice mix of choice(I use garam masala - ground Cumin,cinnamon,coriander and cloves)
1/2 teaspoon fresh minced ginger

For Crust
1 cup Roasted pumpkin seeds
2 slices of whole grain bread
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon spice mix of choice(I use garam masala - ground Cumin,cinnamon,coriander and cloves)
1 teaspoon fresh thyme , chopped

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Method
Marinate the fish in spices and salt for few minutes.

Coarsely grind the pumpkin seeds in a food processor.Tear the bread slices and transfer in the food processor along with the spices,thyme and salt,pulse until the mixture comes together.Lay the mixture on a plate

Preheat oven to 400F.Heat a cast-iron pan on medium heat,add oil.Dredge the fish steaks\fillets on both sides in the mixture and remove. Sear in the hot pan for 2 minutes on each side until crust is golden brown.Then place in oven for another 10-15 minutes until fish is cooked through(takes longer for tuna steak,salmon will cook faster).Slice and serve with salad or vegetables.I served with sauteed broccoli and polenta.



This is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging # 259,hosted this week by Susan of Well Seasoned Cook

Oikos Greek Yogurt Carrot Protein Shake

Remember my post about Organic Stonyfield yogurts and my advocacy for organic foods,I was elated again when offered a free sample coupons for Oikos Greek yogurt,that is fat free with 10grams of protein in a 4oz container and available in delicious flavors such as chocolate,honey caramel and blueberry.
If the store were I shop had chocolate that would have been my first pick,but since it wasn't in stock,had to settle with blueberry as my next best choice.The blueberry oikos Greek yogurt blended with carrots and whey protein yielded one of the most delicious fat-free shakes by far,a perfect finish after a light afternoon or evening meal or even a nutritious start of the day.

Ingredients
4 oz fat free(0%) Oikos Greek yogurt(if using plain add a tablespoon of agave nectar)
2 cups skimmed milk
1 medium carrot,peeled and halved(cut in smaller pieces if using a standard blender)
1/2 cup Whey or Soy protein powder(I used chocolate flavored)
1 cup fresh or frozen berries

Method
Blend all the ingredients in a Vitamix until smooth and frothy,keep cold until serving time.

Daring Bakers : Baked Doughnuts with Dark Chocolate Nut Glaze

My previous attempt of Baked doughnuts with fresh Peach Glaze was so successful that I did not want to look at doughnuts as unhealthy any more,cause there is an healthier way to make it.The Daring Bakers announcement of doughnuts this month was a relief,as it would be easier challenge,also since I'm not posting as many recipes and experimenting with newer recipes recently,all due to lack of time.



The October 2010 Daring Bakers challenge was hosted by Lori of Butter Me Up. Lori chose to challenge DBers to make doughnuts. She used several sources for her recipes including Alton Brown, Nancy Silverton, Kate Neumann and Epicurious.

I followed the same recipe of baked doughnuts as in the peach glaze doughnut but with a more chocolaty make over.Its just dark chocolate in the glaze,no butter or other fat used.Make sure the chocolate is melted and warmed if needed,for a perfect coating all around the naked doughnut.The nuts can be varied ,I used the most affordable roasted peanuts.

Recipe: Baked Donuts with Peach Honey Glaze.
Makes a dozen large donuts
Ingredients
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/4 cups reduced fat milk(can also use almond or soy milk),divided
1 packet(2 teaspoon) active dry yeast
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon organic butter or virgin pressed coconut oil,melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 organic eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
For the Dark Chocolate Nut glaze
1 1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips(good quality with 60% cocoa)
3/4 cup chopped nuts(peanuts,almonds or any other nut of choice)

Method
Warm about a cup of milk in the microwave for 20-25 seconds(warm to touch ,about 100F).Stir in the yeast and sugar,let get frosty,takes 10 minutes.
Beat the eggs in a bowl,whisk in rest of the milk ,butter and olive oil.In a large mixing bowl,combine flour,eggs and yeast mixture,until dough comes together smooth and supple,add more flour if needed.Cover the bowl and set in warm corner,let rise until double in size,about 1-2 hours.

Punch the air out of the dough,transfer on a lightly floured work surface.Divide in to about 4 portions.Roll out each portion about 1/2 inch thick,cut out circles using a 3 inch cookie cutter.To make the hole in the center use a smaller cutter.Make the center hole is big enough or might shut close when proofing.Finish cutting out the doughnuts from the rest of the dough.Lay them on a baking sheet,cover with kitchen towel and let rise(proof) for another 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375F.Bake the doughnuts until bottoms are lightly brown,about 10-12 minutes.Cool on rack before glazing.

Prepare the glaze,by melting chocolate chips in microwave,about a minutes,stir every 10-15 seconds until glossy and completely melted.

Dip both sides of the baked doughnuts in the warm glaze.Sprinkle the chopped nuts either completely or just half for a prettier look.Let sit for an hour till the glaze is set.Could be refrigerated in air tight container for a day or two,but tastes best the same day.

Low Fat Almond Chocolate Mini Pumpkin Pie

Don't you love the vibrant show that nature puts on at this time of the year and exuberance of pumpkins adds to the splendor.Yes,I got my first pumpkin home and made the pie,this one was not so tough to cut through,made my work little easy.I have been posting about pumpkin desserts past two seasons,I present this season another special kind of pie, with almonds ,100% cocoa and dark chocolate chips as the secret ingredients.If you are a regular viewer of the blog,these ingredients are no secret,as I use them often in my recipes.

I do not have a preference for these mini pies over the large pie,making one large pie would be equally good,I just had the pie tins unused for long hence went for the mini version of the pie.The chocolate chips surprise in the filling are simply fantastic. I say this often,will say it again,use 100% cocoa powder and 60% cocoa chocolate chips to get the best benefits of the chocolate.

Recipe :Almond Chocolate Mini Pumpkin Pies
Makes 6 Mini pies or one 9 inch pie
Ingredients
For Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons fat free plain yogurt
1/4 cup brown sugar

For Filling
2 cups Pumpkin puree
1/2 cup fine ground raw almonds(or use almond meal)
1/4 cup unsweetened 100% cocoa powder(I use Hersheys)
1/2 cup brown or white sugar or 1/4 cup Agave nectar
*2 Organic eggs
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips(good quality with at least 60% Cocoa,I use Ghirardelli)
2 tablespoon Organic Whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

*for eggless filling use - 2 table spoon of cornstarch mixed with 1/4 cup whole milk

Method
Bake the crust
Preheat oven to 350F.Mix together graham cracker crumbs, yogurt, and brown sugar in bowl. Press mixture firmly into a min pie tins or a 9 inch pie pan.Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes.

Whisk the eggs or the egg substitute,stir in the sugar,cocoa powder,vanilla, pumpkin puree and ground almonds,combine well.Fill the mini pie tins or the pie pan with the pumpkin mixture.Drop the chocolate chips evenly in all the pie crust or in the pie pan.Bake in 350F oven for about 25-30 minutes until the center is a little firm to touch.Serve warm or can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

This is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #255,hosted this week by Prof Kitty from The Cabinet of Prof. Kitty

Garden Fresh Vegetable Rotini Salad

Considering this was the first year of home gardening,with limited space and brief abandonment during the vacation,it was a pretty good harvest over all.Herbs like cilantro and mint for some reason did not thrive,but thyme and fenugreek were in abundance.Carrots,kale,lettuce,okra,peppers and tomatoes turned out to be a great start for a beginner gardener like me.

Wish I had the right tool to dig out the carrots,it seemed forever to dig deep enough to get the them out whole.Since these were organic the size was smaller and taster was less sweeter.If you have noticed,these were also unique in its shades of color,from light orange to dark purple(I could not get the picture of that deep purple one though).A Pasta Salad suites best with such garden fresh vegetables,juicy and nutritious with no cooking required except for the pasta.

The pasta salad is my entry for Presto Pasta nights,hosted this week by Claudia of Honey from a Rock

Recipe :Garden fresh Vegetable Rotini Salad
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1/2 pound Whole grain Rotini pasta.
2 medium carrots,cut in long thin strips
1 cup tender salad greens(I used baby kale,carrot greens)
1 cup cherry tomatoes,halved
1 big clove garlic,minced
3-4 small sweet peppers,seeded and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
2 tablespoon fresh parsley,finely chopped

Method
Cook the pasta until al-dente(not soft but with a bite to it) as per the package directions.Drain and cool.Transfer in a large salad bowl.
Make the dressing by whisking the oil with vinegar,salt,pepper and parsley.Pour over the pasta,toss in rest of the vegetables and combine well.Serve immediately or could be keep an hour to let the flavors fuse.



Make no mistake,the succulent garden fresh okra stir fry does not go with pasta,its a perfect complement with flat bread or brown rice.Find the recipe of Okra stir fry here.

An important note about the Health Nut Challenge,I am unable to continue it due to time constraints.But I promise to post the round up of Tropical temptations as soon as I can squeeze in time to work on it.

Weekend Herb Blogging #254 Round Up

I'm pleased to have hosted yet another round of Weekend Herb Blogging.Thanks to all the contributors for showing their constant support for the event.


Haalo of Cook Almost Anything(Australia) baked these creamy savory Swedish gratin - Jannson's Temptation,made with thin sliced potatoes(Rose Virginia or Rose Jersey) flavored with pickled sprats(a small marine water fish like the anchovies).


Claire of Chez Cayenne(Texas USA) put together the juicy,sweet,flaky Strawberry Pastry bites,as delicious as it sounds,these make perfect little desserts.



Simone of Briciole(North California) made this gorgeous brightRoasted Red pepper and almond dip using fresh batch of oven-roasted Round of Hungary peppers (a.k.a., pimento cheese peppers).



Tigerfish of Teczcape - an escape to food ,shared with us this hearty pasta dish infused with Celtuce,named after its unique characteristics of the celery-like stalk and the lettuce-like leaves. The "meaty" central stem is crispy and tender - almost similar to that of broccoli stem.And topped with succulent pan fried scallops.



Janet of Taste Space(Toronto,Canada) put the giant zucchini to perfect use in this serene green Creamy Zucchini and Basil Soup enhanced with richness of cashews and fragrant basil.



Marisa of The Creative Pot(South Africa) celebrates spring with this vibrant Baked Spring Risotto ,loaded with fresh fava beans and asparagus and hint of heat from dried red chillies.


Brii of BriiBlog in English(Valsorda - Garda Lake - Italy) baked this distinctive gluten-free Rice and Buckwheat chocolate cake with decadent chocolate and nut candy surprise.


Finally my entry of savory Thyme Olive oil Shortbread is different from usual with no saturated fats and almost no sugar,still every bit delicious and enjoyable with fewer fat and sugar calories.

Thyme Olive Oil Shortbread

Thyme was one of the few herbs that survived despite my poor gardening skills.The lush green fragrant herb made in to many dishes including soups,stews and finally in this scrumptious shortbread recipe.


Shortbread or crackers?,depends on how thin the dough is rolled.Thinner for crackers and thicker for shortbread.Butter is replaced with fruity olive oil and the aroma of fresh thyme is the most apparent in the flavor,these are a perfect accompaniment with warming soups.

Recipe :Thyme Shortbread
Yields over a dozen rectangular shortbread
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour(fine ground)
6-8 sprigs of fresh thyme,leaves separated
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar or 2 teaspoon agave nectar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon cold water

Method
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Prepare the dough by combining all the ingredients either in large mixing bowl or in food processor,do not over mix.Cover the dough and set in fridge for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough in to 2 portions. Take one portion at a time and roll in to 1/4 inch thick rectangular sheet. Place on a greased baking sheet.Score the rolled dough(can use a pizza cutter) on the sheet in to rectangular or square shapes.
Place on a baking sheet,bake for about 15-18 minutes while keeping a close eye until golden brown on the edges.Cool on rack before storing in a tight jar.Good for a week,but tastes best on same day baked.


Hosting Weekend Herb Blogging #254

I'll be hosting the Weekend Herb Blogging event for the week(October 4th-10th).Share your unusual delicious foods.Talk about the one unique ingredient used and please keep the entries exclusive(cannot be sent to other food events).For more rules check here and send your entries to YasmeenHealthnut AT gmail DOT com.

Pluot Galette

Galette is a French Pastry,which I think is more like a pie made without a pie pan.Its flaky crust is achieved by using good amount of saturated fat(here I use only the best kind) and not over mixing the dough.Any kind of fresh tart fruit makes an ideal filling.

Pluots(a cross between plums and apricots) are still in season before the pumpkins invade,I thought why not make a simple dessert requiring not much effort.Really needed only few minutes to put together and the oven does rest of the work.This is lightly sweetened like most of my desserts,the almonds and semolina form the delicious layer over the dough to soak in all the fruity juices,a very unique idea I borrowed from roopa's recipe.

Recipe : Pluot Galette
Serves 3
Ingredients
3 medium ripe pluots or plums or apricots,pitted and sliced
1/2 cup almond meal or fine ground raw almonds
1 tablespoon semolina
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 tablespoon Organic butter(cut in cubes) or pure green or virgin pressed coconut oil
3 tablespoon cold water
1/8 teaspoon salt

Method
To make the pastry dough ,sift together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.Add the butter or ghee or coconut oil to the flour mixture,combine well using hands or use a processor,add water and mix until the mixture comes together.Cover and set in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Mix the almond meal ,sugar and semolina in a small bowl and keep aside.
Unwrap and start rolling on lightly floured work surface,when about 10-12 inches wide along the diameter,spread the almond mixture leaving 2 inches near the edges clean.Now place the sliced pluot slices in a flower pattern and fold the edges,sprinkle with granulated sugar if desired.Transfer on to a baking sheet.
Bake in 375F oven for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden brown and fruit is tender.
Cool few minutes,slice and serve with more fresh fruit and dollop of low fat chocolate ice cream.


The galette is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging #253 ,hosted this week by Simona from Briciole