Cricket on the Field and Cookie for Treat

There is something about sports which connects the whole world. Be it NFL or baseball or tennis or cricket. May be the love for sports comes from our ancestors - our evolutionary path. Long time back, when we were prey (seems terrifying), speed and strength were quite important. If you can’t run away from a predator, you are gone for good. Only the best ones could survive, eventually impress the society and pass their legacy on. Though we don’t have to worry about the predators these days (as WE have replaced them - irony!), we get our thrill from sports. 

I am not an avid cricket fan but World Cup final is something which you can give a try. New Zealand and Australia fought each other off in the finals yesterday. Martin Guptill (NZ) and Mitchell Starc (AUS) have been the best performers so far and are my favorites. Guptill lost his three toes from a childhood accident - hence known as “Two Toes Guptill”. He has been putting more effort into everything since that accident. And look at him now, top run scorer from the New Zealand team.

Mitchell Starc was a wicket keeper until someone told him to try bowling. His height adds on to his good bowling figure. At times he loses his temper on field, but ironically he loves sweet. Though Australia defeated New Zealand on the cricket battleground but there is something sweet which these two nations have been sharing for a long time. Let us try “Anzac Cookies” off the field. Hope you enjoyed my Australian Cocktails. Now be ready for a “sweet” battle.

Anzac Cookies

Ingredients:-

1/2 cup Coconut,

125 grams Butter,

1 cup Rolled Oats,

1 cup Brown Sugar,

1 tablespoons Water,

1 cup All-purpose Flour,

1/2 tablespoon Soda Bicarb,

2 tablespoons Golden Syrup,

2 tablespoons chopped Pistachios.

Preparation Method:-

1. Sift the flour in a bowl. Add sugar, rolled oats, pistachios and coconut. Melt butter in a pan. Add the golden syrup and water.

2. Stir the soda into the liquid mixture. Add the liquid into the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Place small balls of mixture on a greased tray.

3.Bake at 175 D.C for 20 minutes. Biscuits will become hard when cool. Enjoy with your fav coffee!

Cheers for Australia!

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Traditional Almond Cookies

Chinese New Year is here! There is gonna be lots of firework in China, symbolizing the festive spirit. It is believed that Buddha invited all the forest animals to invite him on a particular day. Twelve of them appeared and Buddha named a year after each one of them. New year calls for a huge get together and Chinese food is my all time favorite. People pay a visit to each other's house, share meals, gifts and of course happiness. 

In Chinese culture, red color is considered sacred. It symbolizes fire, which means bad luck is driven away. People wear red color garments, children write short poems on red paper. Children are given luck money in red envelopes. In ancient times, the tribals lit up bamboo stalks. They believed this would drive away the evil spirits and that they can lead a peaceful life. So lets pay a visit to our friend's place with a box of traditional almond cookies.

Ingredients:-

1 pinch salt,

100 ml corn oil,

1 beaten egg yolk,

150 gm plain flour,

100 gm caster sugar,

100 gm ground almonds,

100 gm blanched almonds,

3/4 teaspoon baking soda,

3/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Preparation Method:-

1. Sieve the flour, caster sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Add the ground almonds to the flour and sugar mixture.

2. Slowly trickle in the corn oil to this bowl. Blend until a cohesive dough forms. Heat the oven to 180 D.C. Roll the dough into small balls, place almonds above them and press a bit as shown.

3. Place on a baking tray. Make cookies until all the dough is used up. Lightly glaze the top of the cookie balls with the beaten egg yolk.

4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cookies become slightly golden. Leave to cool. Enjoy the homemade cookies.

Happy New Year!

Diabetic Friendly Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

The food craving for a diabetic and a non-diabetic person is the same. It is human nature to crave for the things, he needs to avoid. The scenario very well matches to that of a diabetic person. His desire for having desserts is doubled instead. I can well understand this coz my father has diabetes. This does not mean that low-sugar meals have to be tasteless. He has a sweet tooth. I am sure you loved my diabetic-friendly pecan ice-cream. 

Oats are significant source of dietary fiber. Oats have earned reputation as widely used healthy breakfast ingredient. There is nothing more fulfilling than to wake up and have a bowl full of steaming hot oats. So healthy and so tasty. Today we have different ways of using oats to give you a satisfactory yet tasty meal. If you have diabetes, you must know that a small square of dark chocolate is enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. Did you know that snacking on unprocessed dark chocolate will help in controlling obesity and diabetes? If no then surely try this recipe to quench your craving.

Ingredients:-

1/4 teaspoon salt,

1/4 cup nonfat milk,

2 teaspoons vanilla,

1/2 cup low-fat butter,

1/2 cup dried cherries,

1 teaspoon baking soda,

Cooking spray as required,

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour,

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger,

1/3 cup whipped egg whites,

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,

2-1/4 cups uncooked quick oats,

1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate,

1 cup Diabetic friendly sweetner,

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce.

Preparation Method:-

1. Combine sweetner, butter, brown sugar, egg whites, applesauce, milk and vanilla in a bowl.

2. Mix with electric mixer until well blended. Stir in combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt.

3. Gradually mix in oats, cherries and chocolate until well combined.

4. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto lightly sprayed baking sheets.

5. Bake in a preheated 350 D.F oven for 10 minutes, or until light golden in color.

6. Remove from baking sheet and cool. Serve!

Happy New Year!

Valentine’s Day Special Red Velvet Cookies

Wanna surprise your Valentine on this special day? Let’s prepare an easy recipe called soft-baked red velvet cookies. The mushy, creamy taste will drive your love crazy. Red color symbolizes love, so it is a perfect treat for Valentine’s day. These can be stored and consumed later. Each bite he takes, he’ll certainly remember his love. Chocolate chips can be used optionally to boost up the romantic mood. So here we have Valentine’s day special, red velvet cookies for our loved one’s.

For Red Velvet Cookies:-

1 large egg,

1/2 teaspoon salt,

2/3 cup brown sugar,

1/3 cup white sugar,

1/2 cup unsalted butter,

3/4 cup sour cream,

2 cups all-purpose flour,

1/2 teaspoon baking soda,

1 tablespoon red food coloring,

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips,

1 ounce squares unsweetened baking chocolate

For Cream Cheese Frosting:- 
 

1/4 cup unsalted butter,

4 ounces cream cheese,

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract,

2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 375 D F. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

2. Break the chocolate squares into chunks, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high until the chocolate melts, about 90 seconds.

3. Stir the chocolate until smooth and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy; pour in the egg and beat until smooth.

4. Mix in the red food coloring and chocolate, scraping the bowl down regularly, until evenly blended, about 30 seconds.

5. Add half of the sifted dry ingredients, stirring until well incorporated. Beat in the sour cream and mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.

6. Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven until they spring back when pressed, about 9 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

7. For the cream cheese frosting, whip 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Blend in the powdered sugar in half cup portions until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.

8. Add into cookies and serve.

Enjoy the sugar crush date!!!