Low Calorie Lattice Christmas Cherry Coffee Cake

Hey friends, how was your Christmas eve? Well juz to add on lemme tell you that mine was awesome. Hope you liked my nutty cake recipe. This Low Calorie Lattice Cherry Coffee Cake is an all-time favorite recipe of my family. The latticed surface showcasing the cherries is so vibrantly that the cake is too pretty to be eaten. Isn't it? The cherry sauce within is where the real fun is. I prefer sour cherries while making the sauce. I have used sugar-free sweetener here, taking into consideration the craving plus health of everyone. A bit time consuming, but trust me, the cake is a rich delicacy. Whether it’s Christmas or New Year, holidays are definitely incomplete without this yummzz!

Ingredients:-

1 egg,

1 teaspoon salt,

1 cup sour cream,

1/4 cup warm water,

2 tablespoons butter,

1 pinch active dry yeast,

3 cups all-purpose flour,

3 tablespoons Sugar-free Sweetener.

Preparation Method:-

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Add sour cream, egg, sweetener, butter, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic for 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.

3. Punch dough down. Reserve 1 cup dough. Divide remaining dough in half. Roll each portion into a 9-in. circle; place in greased 9-in. round baking pans. Combine filling ingredients; spread over dough to within 1/2 in. of edge.

4. Roll out reserved dough to 1/4-in. thickness; cut into 1/2-in. strips. Make a lattice top over filling. Fill in the cherry sauce. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

5. Cover the top with foil. Bake 20 minutes longer or until browned.

Quick and Easy Cherry Sauce 

Ingredients:-

1 cup Water,

1/4 cup Lemon Juice,

2 tablespoons Cornstarch,

20 ounce frozen pitted Cherries,

2/3 cup Sugar Free Sweetener.

Preparation Method:-

1. Bring cherries, sweetener and 3/4 cup of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir often.

2. Stir 1/4 cup water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. Add into the boiling cherry mixture.

3. Return to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook until thickened for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tangy Pork Skewers with Yogurt Dip

Hey pals! It’s crazy Christmas month and I have not prepared pork since a long time. Last time I prepared Sweet and Sour Pork, and I’m glad that everyone appreciated it so much. So a big thank you. This time I thought of including a marinade recipe, coz it has a unique flavor of it’s own. Skewers add on to the party mood. Tangy food on the stick make a great appetizer. Everyone loves preparing skewers for their utmost ease and versatility. 

A well prepared marinade not only keeps the grilling food flavorful and moist, but they make it healthier imbibing the citrus agent within. The best part is that this is a flexible recipe where in you can grill or fry pork as per choice. Nevertheless, they are a great addition to a buffet table. An appetizer is incomplete without crazy Christmas dips. Isn't it? More than these tangy pork skewers, I’m excited about the cucumber, dill and yogurt dip. The winning dip would definitely score big at any gathering. This is truly a party dip. So, ready for the party fun with some real tasty yummzz?

Ingredients:-

2 cups Plain Yogurt,

8 small White Onions,

4 minced Garlic Cloves,

900 grams Pork Cubes,

1 diced Red Bell Pepper,

1 diced Yellow Bell Pepper,

2 tablespoons Lemon Juice,

1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin,

1/2 teaspoon Ground Coriander.

Preparation Method:-

1. Prepare the marinade. In a bowl combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin and coriander. Mix well. Add pork, cover and refrigerate for about 6 hours.

2. Cut bell peppers into squares. Add pork, onions and peppers onto the skewers. Preheat the grill.

3. Grill for about 35 minutes or until pork is cooked properly. You can also fry incase you are fond of fried pork yummzz. Serve with your favorite dip.

Cucumber, Dill and Yogurt Dip 

This is my favorite dip. The best part of this dip is that it can be made a day before the Christmas. Keep it in refrigerator and serve when the skewers are completely ready.

Ingredients:-

2 cups Yogurt,

1 tablespoon Salt,

1 grated Cucumber,

1/2 cup Sour Cream,

1 tablespoon Olive Oil,

1 minced Garlic Clove,

2 tablespoons minced Dill,

2 tablespoons Lemon juice.

Preparation Method:-

1. Take a bowl. Place yogurt in sieve. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to drain in the refrigerator overnight.

2. Mix cucumber and 1 tablespoon salt in small bowl. Cover and chill 3 hours. Transfer drained yogurt to another bowl.

3. Mix in sour cream, lemon juice, dill and garlic. Squeeze out excess liquid from cucumber. Stir cucumber into yogurt.

4. Season with pepper. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Enjoy with skewers :D

Merry Christmas!

Crunchy Christmas Nutty Cake

Christmas is here. There will be Christmas carols and the snowy yet vibrant celebration all around in a few days. Hope you liked my blog Low-calorie Christmas Muffins. I was listening to the song, Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake and then decided to prepare a crunchy cake. Crunchy cake? Yes, a nutty cake. This cake would be filled with goodness and richness of Brazil nuts, walnuts, pec-pec pecans, almonds and mild flavor of vanilla. Everyone is gonna love it. The best part is that it can be made before hand. Your family can munch it throughout the Christmas holidays.

Ingredients:-

4 Eggs,

125 grams Flour,

3/4 teaspoon Salt,

450 grams Brazil nuts,

200 grams caster sugar,

225 grams  walnut halves,

225 grams  pecan halves,

1 teaspoon baking powder,

2 teaspoons vanilla essence,

675 grams blanched whole almonds.

Preparation Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 140 D. C. Line a large round cake tin with baking parchment and lightly grease.

2. Combine the almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine with nut mixture and mix well.

3. Beat eggs and vanilla, add to nut and flour mixture and mix well. Add into cake tin and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Check with the knife.

4. Set aside for 5 minutes and remove from tins. Garnish with nuts for the Christmas treat.

Enjoy the Yummy Cake

Christmas Colors Chilli Fish

Sweet and chilli flavored food is always welcomed on fests and occasions. For many of us, appetizers are the favorite part of the Christmas feast. Isn't it? And on top of that tangy-spicy appetizer is something you can't resist. So, I decided to prepare tangy fish. Yummzz! Hope you liked my recipe, grilled fish (cod). I am very fond of varieties of fish especially pomfret as it is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B3 and vitamin E. It also helps in fighting wrinkles and skin redness. It adds moisture to your skin. 

 

Soy sauce is an awesome ingredient to flavor recipes. It's the most common in Asian cuisine. Most dishes don't specify the type of soy sauce that we use, but they vary wildly as per flavor, texture and appearance. I have used a strong one here to imbibe the Asian flavors. I have used homemade green chilli sauce here to add-on extra spice to the recipe. Tomato Sauce that is a bit sweet is recommended.

Ingredients:-

1 cubed Onion,

1 cubed Capsicum,

1 teaspoon Honey,

3 tablespoons Flour,

Olive Oil for deep frying,

1 teaspoon Tomato Sauce,

1 tablespoon Soya Sauce,

31/2 tablespoons Cornflour,

1 teaspoon Green Chilli Sauce,

1 bunch chopped Spring Onions,

250 grams cubed deboned Fish,

2 teaspoons Ginger-garlic paste,

1 teaspoon Black Pepper Powder.

Preparation Method:-

1. Make a thick batter of 3 tablespoons cornflour, flour ,1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste, salt, pepper powder and water. Dip the fish pieces in this and shallow fry in oil until golden brown.

2. Drain and set aside. In the same oil, add the onions and capsicum. When the onions start to turn pink, add the ginger-garlic paste. Stir until fragrant.

3. Turn the heat to high. Add the soya, chilli and tomato sauce. Mix well and reduce heat. Add the fried fish pieces. Again mix well and cook on low heat.

4. Mix well the 1 teaspoon cornflour in 4 tablespoons water. Add to the fish mixture and cook until the sauce thickens and coats the fish completely. Add chopped spring onions and honey. Serve hot with your fav drink.

Merry Christmas!

Gala with Gluten-free Chocolate Christmas Muffins

Christmas is here and as I promised, I have something for everyone, so here are special muffins for the people allergic to gluten. Hope you liked my Strawberry Marshmallow Cake. I’m trying something out with cherry now. Cherries are wonderfully delicious and a full fledged package of health nutrients and unique antioxidants. These are low in calories and ultra rich source of vitamins and minerals. Cherries heal fibromyalgia (painful muscle condition), gout arthritis and sports injuries. Isn’t it wonderful?

A person on paleo diet prefers lean proteins that support strong muscles, healthy bones and improves immune function. Quinoa flour, coconut flour, amaranth flour, teff flour and chia flour are very friendly for paleo diet. These flours can be used in bakery products especially muffins and cake and that is what I have done here. You can also use the mixture of four flours in equal quantity. You will definitely not mind baking the bakery-worthy muffins for the people of all age group in your family. Will you?

Ingredients:-

150 ml Yogurt,

2 beaten Eggs,

1 teaspoon Soda,

100 grams melted Butter,

250 grams Gluten-free Flour,

140 grams dried sour Cherries,

100 grams chopped Dark Chocolate,

100 grams chopped White Chocolate.

Preparation Method:-

1. Heat oven to 200 D.C and place a 12 hole muffin tin, with some paper cases. Sift the flour and soda bicarb in a large bowl. Add in the thawed cherries, chocolate and sugar.

2. Then add beaten eggs, yogurt and butter. Stir to combine. Don't over-mix as the muffins will turn out tough.

3. Fill the paper cases and bake for 20 minutes, until risen and golden brown. Cool them. Garnish with chocolate and cherries as shown. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Food Ideas

Food ideas for any party is all about smart cooking and great presentation. Isn’t it? Nevertheless, whatever looks good tastes delish. Indulge yourself in the spirit of Christmas with yummy, quick and easy recipes. It is certain that you would like to spend maximum time with friends and families and not in the kitchen. I am going to disclose some swift fun food ideas right away!

Christmas Wreath (Ham-Veggie Crescent Wreath) - Grab some fresh bruschetta from the market, arrange on a plate in form of a wreath as shown. You can also use homemade garlic and cheese bread, if time permits. I prefer cheese and garlic bruschetta bread. Add on it, the topping of your choice. Spicy mayo and honey cream form a great topping. To it add diced ham and roasted veggies. Just bake the bread for 2 minutes before adding the topping. Get an eye-catching and sumptuous party appetizer. 

Snowy Deer Muffins (Chocolate/Vanilla Muffins) - Any party is incomplete without desserts, isn’t it? Make the muffins of your choice. They can be simple, raisins or berry muffins. The game here is only the way you present it. Prefer a smooth base and spread chocolate evenly. You can also add vanilla cookie on the top, as shown. Add pretzel to make horns of the deer. Decorate eyes with berries/small candies. Enjoy the cute treat with lots of goodies within.

X-Mas Tree pizza (Mini Veggie Pizza) - Prepare the pizza base beforehand. You can make variant of shape using special baking cutters eg. Christmas tree or Star-shape. Ah! kids are gonna love it. Just bake with your favorite cheese and veggies. The taste will be doubles seeing these mini cheesy pizza bites. Even a novice cook can master the art of preparing pizza. So let the fun begin with this veggie and cheesy treat.

Merry Christmas!

Spicy Christmas Mini Meat Pies

Hi pals! How are you doing? It's the Christmas month and we all crave to have goodies on the weekends. Isn’t it? So here I present before you, the cute yummy bites of flaky dough stuffed with spicy ground beef/turkey mixture. These are very filling and best to be served with tomato and chilli sauce. The best part here is that you can enjoy the meat of your choice. You can also use any kind of low fat cheese instead of cheddar cheese. The hotness quotient (usage of sauce) of this meat recipe can be made flexible. I have only combined the best of rich Christmas flavors to make a pie that both children and adults will adore. 

Ingredients

For Filling:-

1/2 cup Chilli sauce,

2 tablespoons Onion Soup Mix,

1 pound ground Turkey or Beef.

For Dough:-

3/4 cup Milk,

1 teaspoon Salt,

1 cup Shortening,

1 tablespoon Vinegar,

3 cups All-purpose Flour,

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese,

1 tablespoon Sesame seeds (Optional).

Preparation Method:-

1. Cook beef over medium heat until done. Stir in chili sauce and soup mix. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sesame seeds and salt. Add shortening and cheese until crumbly. Mix milk and vinegar. Slowly add it to the flour mixture. Knead the dough.

3. Divide the dough in 2 halves. Make 2 rolls out of the dough, which should be thick enough to hold the filling. Cut circles with the help of a mini meat pie cutter.

4. Top each with a tablespoonful of meat mixture. Cover with remaining circle (dough). Moisten edges with water. Press with a fork to seal. Cut a slit on top of each as shown.

5. Bake at 425 D. F for 15 minutes. Serve hot with tomato and chilli sauce!

Merry Christmas :D

Diabetic Friendly Pecan Ice Cream

X-Men series has always been my all time favorite. Halle Berry is known for her magnificent role in X-Mean, Catwoman, Die Another Day etc. I am a huge fan of her, especially after knowing about her battle with diabetes. She says regular exercise and healthy diet are good ways of tackling with Diabetes. The first step taken by her was to consume diet that's low in fat, not processed and low in carbohydrates as well as sugar. She cut down the desserts, processed or junk food and adopted a whole new way of eating. 

Halle Berry started with lots of fresh veggies, chicken, fish and pasta. She stopped intake of red meat and eliminated consuming various fruits because of the sugar content. She loves having grilled fish and garlic mashed potato plus vinegar and salt crisps. Though Halle prefers salty to sweet, butter pecan ice cream is something she loves. Christmas is here and I have something for everyone. Let’s start with Diabetic friendly Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

Ingredients:-

3/4 cup Pecans,

3 large Egg Yolks,

½ cup low-fat Milk,

2 cups low-fat Cream,

1/8 teaspoon Sea salt,

¾ cup Sugar Free Syrup,

1/3 cup Artificial Sweetener,

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract,

1 ½ tablespoons low-fat Butter.

Preparation Method:-

1. Chop pecans. In a skillet, melt butter over moderate heat, until foam subsides. Toast pecans in butter, stir occasionally, until golden and fragrant for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt to taste.
2. Cool pecans and chill in a plastic bag. Buttered pecans may be made 3-4 days ahead and chilled.

3. In a heavy saucepan mix cream, artificial sweetener, milk, sugar free syrup, and salt. Bring just to a boil, stir occasionally.
4. In a bowl beat yolks until smooth. Add hot cream mixture to yolks in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly at 170 D. F.
5. Pour custard through a sieve into a clean bowl and cool. Stir in extract. Chill custard, its surface covered with plastic wrap, at least 3 hours, or until cold, and up to 1 day.
6. Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker. Transfer ice cream to a bowl and fold in chilled pecans. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Ice cream may be made 1 week ahead.