Light Summer Indulgence : Apple Yogurt Cupcake

It's the middle of May and we all are sick of the sticky heat already. But we do crave that sweet endnote at the end of the meal. Is it only me, or do we all feel like biting into that sinful cupcake and the eat half only because the butter cream gets difficult to swallow after  two bites. The greasy lining on the palette can get very nauseating. I chose to eat a fruit or a chilled iced tea to replace dessert most of the time. But at times we do give in to temptation and buy that pastry or cupcake. I end up feeling very guilty about it.

So, what if I tell you that I'm going to share a recipe of a diet cupcake with you? Would you believe me ? I'm not joking ! Imagine, soft , flavorful, and with a frosting too ! And would you believe, it uses very simple ingredients too... 

Apple  Yogurt Cupcakes

Cake Batter (yields 12 cupcakes)

Whole wheat flour 2 cups

Olive oil ½ cups

Yogurt ¾ cups

Apple grated 2 large

Cinnamon powder ½ tsp

Salt 1 pinch

Baking powder ½ tsp

Baking soda ½ tsp

Eggs 2 nos

Honey 4 tbsp /artificial sweetener

• ·         Beat , eggs, honey , oil, yogurt  till mixed well
• ·         Add the apple and mix well
• ·         Sift together whole wheat flour , cinnamon , salt ,baking powder, soda
• ·         Gently fold into the batter
• ·         Divide into 12 lined muffin cups
• ·         Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25 mins

For frosting

Hung curd 1 ½ cups

Honey 4 tbsp

Cinnamon powder 1 tsp

• ·         Beat hung curd , honey and cinnamon till mixed well
• ·         Pipe over the cooled cupcakes
• ·         Serve chilled 

Hope you will enjoy these yummy yet healthy cupcakes . Looking forward to feedback  !

Cheers to good Health !!

Yumm Yumm Carrot Cake .... With a Twist of health

 

Carrot cake is one of the simplest things in the world .... where most people go wrong is the simplicity bit... Keep it simple and it will will hearts ... complicate it ... and it goes bleh ! Wont say much more simply sharing a recipe that I learnt ages ago and now I make a health twist to it . One winter morning my father got me really sweet baby carrots from the market and I decided to make this timeless cake that everyone loves .

Carrot Cake

Carrots 180g (grated)

Eggs 2 nos

Olive Oil 75 ml

Sugar 120g ( powdered)

Whole Wheat Flour 100g

Cinnamon powder ½ tsp

Nutmeg powder ½ tsp

Baking powder ¼  tsp

Soda bicarb ¼  tsp

Salt – a pinch

Raisins 50 g

Almonds 15 pcs chopped

• Mix in all dry ingredients
• Add the egg and olive oil and blend into a smooth paste
• Add the carrots and the dry  fruits
• Baked for 30 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius

 This too is super easy to make and low on cholesterol .... If there is a diabetic at home please use equivalent quantity of artificial sweetener

Ciao ! 

Five Spice... The Magic Powder

Most People who use five spice powder know it as a flavoring that masks that meaty flavor of pork and duck. The origins of five spice come from the southern China where the roasts and braises are very popular. mostly used as a dry rub but it can also be used for some amazing stir fries.

The main ingredients of a 5 spice powder are as follows:

Pepper

Fennel Seeds 

Cinnamon 

Star Anise 

Cloves 

For braises one can also add some dried mandarin orange peel as well 

I usually like to pair it with bean sprouts as it really compliments the wild grassy flavor of bean sprouts. Sharing a recipe that has always been a hit for all my health conscious friends 

 Stir fried Bean Sprouts with five Spice

Bean Sprouts 2 cups

Sliced onions 1 nos

Spring onion ½ cup

Fried garlic 1 tsp

5 spice powder 1 tsp

Assorted bell peppers 1 cup

Lemon 1 nos juice and rind

Chili oil 1 tsp

Salt

Pepper

Sugar

Msg 

Oyster mushroom sauce 1 tsp

• Heat chili oil and sauté onion and bell pepper
• Add the seasonings and the sauce and 5 spice
• Toss the bean sprouts finish with few drops of lemon juice and lemon rind

Hope all the people on a diet will not have any complains now... Some diet food can even make people jealous.