CINNAMON NUTMEG COCONUT SUGAR CAKE

I HAD ALWAYS BEEN A FORGETFUL SELF, GETTING YET MORE FORGETFUL WITH AGE!

That is by inheritance! What is alarming and should be mended is that I cannot afford to be callous in a busy road, not even in this supremely organised island! But I have some good habits, I usually use footpaths and follow the traffic lights whilst crossing the roads! I am more concerned about the son in a distant land, is he careful enough in the roads? My panicky self would never let me live well! I try my best, that's why I have headphones set whilst walking outdoor, but that is a hazard too, there are moving vehicles on the road! To shove off the panic and the disturbing thoughts, I do what I enjoy doing the most, something or the other related to cooking! This morning, soon after the man left, I made some extra efforts to make the son talk, but in vein! He may be busy with shifting from one shared apartment to another in two three days but all through he had been like this, all that Mumma-Babai thinks is that little did we get to be with our only child, we wish for long chats with him! Then, I had a small talk with the mother, I never call her in the morning, she remains busy but my call log says she called me at 2:50am, island time today, that is scary! I learnt here is nothing to worry about! Thereafter, I mixed & matched two-three varieties of pickles, added bhaja moshola to it and perfected to my taste buds!

I also cooked a bharta to have for my lunch! I wish to blog about it later, not going into any details hence!

IT WAS A WEEKEND WITH NO DIFFERENCE; WHATEVER, WE NEVER GET BORED OF IT!

That may be because we enjoy living each day of our life, that we enjoy watching movies & series after series! We have already watched Delhi Crime and HIT:The First Case! Besides, there were Hollywood action thrillers may be going on all day, I was either busy with cooking or taking a late afternoon nap! I may have missed movies but not munching in between my meals! My yesterday's & today's lunch had excess amount of rice, I am scared now but quite unable to mend my ways & eat clean! 

Yesterday, for lunch, I wished to cook the small grained, fragrant rice the man refuses to have! He wants white Basmati! Starting from Monday to Friday, I would eat Quinoa instead of rice, for at least one meal, preferably for dinner! Does it help? I read quinoa has more calories than white rice! Whatever, I cannot have the sides without having anything for my mains, we love our roti-prata, fried rices; they love plain rice with their choice of meat & fish! After over a month, I got home chicken on bone and thoroughly enjoyed the curry I cooked, just the way I do, the Kolkata variety of chicken! My refrigerator is full of cooked food, but Sunday night we had an egg, potato boil rice. Like the veteran females in my family, I like my mashes with mustard oil & burnt chillies often, also with butter or ghee we like! I can talk endlessly about food but how about wrapping up my blogpost sooner and watch a movie on Hotstar or Hoichoi? You see, it was raining all day and now we see some light; courtesy, the clear sky!

WHAT IS CINNAMON NUTMEG COCONUT SUGAR CAKE?

This cake was baked back in April, 2020 and a photo feature done! I forgot what I wished to highlight in this cake, that it is oil-free or that it uses coconut sugar! Actually, if we use over ripened bananas in a cake batter, we can omit the oil! But not always I like the flavour of a banana. I personally enjoy having flawless, just ripe banana but not everyday! Whatever, the cake tasted good, if you fancy no frill, plain cakes; you would enjoy it!

This vegetarian cake uses wholewheat flour but I do not remember why I used it instead of refined flour! These days, I use gluten-free flours too! How good at that time my bake mode was working fine! So, CINNAMON NUTMEG COCONUT SUGAR CAKE is a simple vegetarian bake, flavoured with cinnamon & nutmeg powders; it uses coconut sugar instead of white or brown sugar or jaggery! It is oil-free, the banana and fresh cream moistened the cake! While I write this blogpost, I am listening to the jugalbandi of Rahul Sharma & Richard Clayderman, who play santoor and piano respectively. I enjoy listening to both of them! A few genre of music is the fodder to my soul! Why do some want to die, destroy others? Life is precious! Text Books are not for everyone; selling tacos, chicken rice, tomato rice on a food truck is not a tough thing! I so wished to run a small, homely eatery!

INGREDIENTS :

WHOLEWHEAT FLOUR : 1 COFFEE MUG

RIPENED BANANA : 2 STANDARD SIZED

FRESH CREAM : 350 ML

COCONUT SUGAR : 1 SMALL TEA CUP

BAKING POWDER : 1/3 TSP

BAKING SODA : 1/4 TSP

VINEGAR : 2 TBSP

CINNAMON POWDER : 1 TSP

NUTMEG POWDER : 1/2 TSP

PROCEDURE :

We would be using 2 cans of the fresh cream and 1 small tea cup of the coconut sugar!

We would take the wholewheat flour, baking soda & powder together and mix well!  

We would blend together the fresh cream, vinegar, banana, coconut sugar & add to the flour mixture.

We would fold in well and add the cinnamon & nutmeg powders, then pour into a cake tin. I used an aluminium foil, did not require to grease or dust!

 

We need to tap it on the kitchen counter!

Mine is a convection mode microwave oven; I reheated the oven for 8-10 minutes! 

I had placed the low height wired stand and on top of it the batter filled cake tin!

I baked it at 180*C for 32-35 minutes!

To get the best taste of a homemade plain cake; have it fresh and warm!

TWEAKED BENGALI FRENCH TOAST

 IT IS AROUND 6PM, I WAS OCCUPIED WITH SOMETHING ELSE AND GOT LATE WITH THE BLOGPOST!

What made me busy? Nothing constructive as such! I trimmed a few of our indoor plants, checked on few of the outdoor ones! I have a tiny green space with no knowledge for their care. I have a wish to grow fruits & vegetables though; I appreciate those who do it! In this home, we do not agree on a point except for a few! In a small flat with a mere hedge, you hardly can grow anything! Look at the silly self, I had thrown in the seeds of few litchis after eating the flesh & then this! What to do with the saplings now? Who to give?

Few years back, my Peace Lily died of overwatering! Not that today we have learnt a lot about gardening, just a little bit. I am scared about the health of my Peace Lily!  I have some outside the main door that reached almost our neighbour's door! They are a gentle & composed family, this island's natives! We would at times meet them in the lift, have small talks. The couple have two or three college & office going boys, that I fail to count. They are too shy boys, I felt! Why was I with my greens today? I seek peace in them, when my soul is in an unrest mode! They do not flower much as we do not know about the right use of fertilisers! 

WHAT SETS MY MIND & BODY IN AN UNREST STATE?

Whenever I see something beyond my set of rules & understandings, reasonings; I tag it unnatural, wrong and everything my negativity can call it! Overthinking, I get into a sad state of mind! Also this rain throughout the year is really not my thing! Rain pushes me more into depression, always! There is depression in the sky, on my mind; all over! I do not get how come people quarrel when it smells death around, of their own! No sane being can want dishonour in death, it hurts to see silly insane beings! Wish I could be a messiah and make people understand to live life peacefully and with honour is the ultimate goal we can have! But I have known, not every word flying around has truth in it! To know exactly about an incident, we need to be there talking to the locals, concerned beings! I have decided not to lynch people in public unless they intent to hurt me or my own! These days, I consider social media one big family, we only have to browse carefully! I wish I had wheels fixed under my feet and two wings on my shoulders, I would have flown to my boy & then with him to the places of interest! I wished to pursue journalism after the graduation but my graduating scores did not allow me to! Baby wished to study Political Science & Journalism initially, was it for his love for mumma? But the daddy pushed him towards the subjects his mumma has no interest in! She walks alone lost in deep thoughts she has no connection to but that is her nature since birth! She is having cough & cold, yet she dreads the rain because walking helps release her stress! She is cool enough to pick up some lemon grass from the muddy soil in the roadside and sows in a pot, she would make tea with them, may flavour a light chicken curry too! She is listening to KennyG since the morning, actually the brother used to be more into Western Music, I do not know much about his spouse's preferences!

And there I had a big lunch today, one chicken fry was extra! Again, around 6:30 pm I had Cristine's Nescafe and two cake slices! She decided she should not have dinner today! I had the plan to make aloor porota today, just not willing to; would send Cristine to get two Mac Chicken Meal for Sir & herself! T dislikes fish burgers!

WHAT IS THIS TWEAKED BENGALI FRENCH TOAST?

Why do I call it tweaked? That is because I have spread a tongue tickling chutney / condiment on the bread slices before batter frying them! The batter is off course made of eggs, cornflour, a bit of baking soda & powder, salt, onion, green chillies! BENGALI FRENCH TOAST is how Bengalis have modified the original French Toast in their kitchen! TWEAKED BENGALI FRENCH TOAST is what extra I did spreading that mixed condiment of Kashundi+fresh mint paste+sriracha mayo on the bread slices! Our's was not an egg loving family. However we loved having homemade French Toast often. It is true about every middle class Bengali family of our times, I believe! Our mother did not add the cornflour, baking soda & powder but I have seen my friend Indranil's mother using those to make it crisp & you can see it!

We had it for our lunch yesterday, without T & today we packed his lunch box with bread omelette, his love is egg! But these days, I prefer eggs over sea fish! French Toast are to be had fresh & hot, what a loving snacks for the Bengalis! My unfriendly towards eggs brother enjoys French toast I think, his spouse is an egg lover too!

INGREDIENTS FOR THE INSTANT CHUTNEY / CONDIMENT : 

FRESH MINT : A HANDFUL

GREEN CHILLI : 1 OR 2

CHILLI MUSTARD PASTE : 2 TBSP [I USED HOMEMADE KASHUNDI]

SRIRACHA MAYO : 1 TBSP

SALT : A PINCH

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FINISHED SNACK :

THE INSTANT CHUTNEY : AS REQUIRED

BREAD SLICE : 7-8

EGG : 2-3 

CHOPPED ONION : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TBSP

CORN FLOUR : 2 TBSP

WATER : 1/4 SMALL TEA CUP

BAKING POWDER : 1/4 TSP

BAKING SODA : A PINCH

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/4 TSP

SALT : 1/4 TSP

OIL : AS MUCH REQUIRED TO DEEP FRY

PROCEDURE :

For the instant condiment, wash a handful of mint leaves  and the green chilli, sprinkle some water and blend to a paste. Transfer to a bowl, add the chilli-mustard paste or Kashundi Sauce, Sriracha Mayo, a pinch of salt; mix well!

Get the washed, chopped onion & chillies on the kitchen top!

Beat well the eggs and add the corn flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, turmeric powder. Beat well again!

To it, add the onions & green chillies!

Cut off the sides of the bread and cut again to get a triangular shape!

On one side of each slice, spread the chutney, close tight two slices on the chutney sides, dip into the batter! 

Heat enough oil in a wok, not to the smoking point, they should fry well and crisp and not get burnt!

Turn over & fry both sides well!

Hold each piece for a while before placing it onto a tissue paper! 

We must have them fresh & hot to get the maximum of the crispiness!

MIXED FRUITS OATS HALWA

 AFTER A SPECIAL PRAYER MEET, I KEEEP THINKING HOW TO USE UP THE EXCESS OF THE CUT FRUITS OFFERED TO MY GOD FAMILY?

That is the reason why I prefer to offer whole fruits to them, the Bengalis offer cut fruits arranged on a plate! On some occasions, I may offer cut fruits, the few guests that come or I send the "proshad" to, would want to have less of fruits! Because there are either polao or khichuri, luchi, kheer, vegetables, sweet meats to indulge in! The Thai Pineapple & Chausa Mango varieties are of high order but mine got over-ripened! Something had to be done with the excess of the cut fruits I had offered!

I think I should wrap up early today, not feeling well! I suffered from cough & cold for three weeks! Again today, since the morning there is pain in the throat area whenever I am trying to swallow something! After a late shower, I feel shivery! I have overeaten at the lunch time outside today!

THE REFRIGERATOR IS OVERFLOWING WITH FOOD, THE DECISION TO EAT OUTSIDE WAS WRONG!

We had a little of shopping in Daiso, Cristine came back, I had an island style lunch at Nex, sat for few minutes & took a longer route to home! I hear walks after eating, if not immediately after does not let fat accumulation! But it made me feel tired, why would a mere 5.6 km walk make my legs pain? I had this platter which initially I did not feel would be big for me! I enjoyed my food but I did not require all of them!

After having the fish & fried tofu soup, I felt full! The chicken mince noodles & the greens were too good but I was full! The white sauce on top of the sautéed greens I did not like! For the first time, I went to the mall's rooftop today; there is a gym, music school, enrichment center and a public library! I do not know why I never wished to be a member of it in these 12 years of stay! I think I have stopped reading enough! 

The kids' play area is closed at this time! Thereafter, I had the food at Basement-1 and walked back home 3.6 km, taking a longer route! Given a choice, I would not have done any exercise, not even a cardio! What makes me happy are small buys; today it was a plant tub stand for 4.07$ from Daiso, Japan! I placed it outside our main door!

WHAT IS THIS MIXED FRUITS OATS HALWA?

I think I already have a mango-oats halwa recipe in the blog! I loved it then, I loved more what I cooked with some cut fruits yesterday morning! 

I did not use any amount of sugar or jaggery or artificial sweeteners! In this island, fruits are of good quality and sweet! I may tell you, I loved this vegan, gluten-free, diary free quick made dessert with few ingredients; MIXED FRUITS OATS HALWA pudding! Our son stopped loving semolina at one point in life, he eats if only it had fresh fruit juices in it. Mumma totally discards the semolina part & uses oats to cook the halwa with a fresh fruit punch! I enjoyed it, I believe my son, T & the rest in the family too would! The father is no more, the brother & his get fruits for our mother, she cannot eat with her weakening teeth all of the varieties; a soft, warm, healthy dessert would have suited! My in-laws too have stopped eating sweets & desserts for long now, it would suit them too! Anyway, diabetics like us should not eat too much of fruits either! Who listens? I am having my coffee with a Dollar Shop's 1$ cake, it's yet bigger! I used Olive Oil for keeping it vegan, using the ghee would give you the best flavour! Yesterday for lunch we had two more friends willing to have "proshad", please comply, it would get you good fortune!

INGREDIENTS :

RIPE CUT MANGO : A COFFEE MUG

RIPE CUT PINEAPPLE : A COFFEE MUG

RIPE CUT BANANA : A MEDIUM TEA CUP

GRAPE : A SMALL TEA CUP

SEEDLESS SWEET ORANGE SEGMENT : 10-12

GREEN CARDAMOM POWDER : 1 TSP

BAYLEAF : 1 OR 2

SUGAR : 2 TBSP [I DID NOT USE, U NEED NOT IF THE FRUITS ARE SWEET]

OATMEAL : A SMALL TEA CUP

OLIVE OIL : 2 TBSP

I USED TOASTED & CRUSHED PISTACHIO & ALMOND TO GARNISH

PROCEDURE : 

We should wash the fruits before peeling and chopping them! We would blend them to a paste!

We would pour 2 tbsp of oil in the wok & temper with two bay leaves! 

We would powder the oats and add it to the hot oil, stir cook at low heat for 3-4 minutes, add the mixed fruits nectar!

Thereafter, we would fold in both well and stir constantly at minimal heat for 3-4 minutes!

We would add the green cardamom powder, constantly stir cook at minimal heat for 2-3 minutes!

We would switch off the gas stove, crush the almonds  and pistachio; microwave at the lowest heat for 30-40 seconds !

We would transfer the pudding to a serving bowl and garnish with the toasted dry fruits & nuts!

I believe any Halwa Pudding Dessert should be eaten fresh and warm for the best taste!