Parippu Vada/Masala Vada

How about having masala vada with a cup of tea in winter???We enjoyed it on last day..Those video and clicks are here..

Ingredients:

Channa dal	1 cup
Rice flour	1 tbl spoon
Big onion(finely chopped)	1(small)
Ginger	1 inch piece
Garlic	6 cloves
Green chillies	5 (medium)
Curry leaves	1 sprig
Asafoetida powder	1 pinch
Salt	to taste
Oil	to deep fry

Preparation:

(1) Soak channa dal in water for about 4 hours. Drain the water completely.

(2) Grind it in mixer in two batches and make a coarse mixture. Don't add water. Just grind it for 2 or 3 seconds. Some channa will remain as whole. Keep it aside.

(2) Now grind ginger,garlic and green chillies in a mixer and make a coarse mixture.

(3) Now add the grinned mixtures in a vessel along with onion,curry leaves, rice flour,salt and asafoetida powder. Mix well using hand.

(4) Heat oil  in a large pan. Make equal sized balls out of the dough. Now take each ball in one hand and gently press the centre and make circle shapes.

(5) Drop it in hot oil and deep fry it until golden brown in medium heat. Flip in between. Your masala vada is ready.

Video:

Here is the video for making vada. I'm adding a video for the first time.Videographer was my husband:)

Have it hot with a cup of tea...

Tips:

• Don't add water while grinding. The magic of making perfect vadas lies in grinding.
• Addition of rice flour adds crispness.

Vanilla-Butter Cake with Confectioners Frosting

This is our 2nd wedding anniversary cake. It came out too good,which i too did't expect :)

Ingredients for Cake:

Maida/All purpose flour	1&1/2 cup/350 gm
Butter	1 cup/225 gm
Sugar	1&3/4 cup 345 gm
Egg	4
Vanilla essence	3 tbl spoon
Baking powder	1 tspoon
Baking soda	1 pinch
Milk	1 cup
Salt	1/2 tspoon

Preparation:

(1) In a bowl sieve maida/flour two times. To this add salt and baking powder. Mix well using a whisk. Keep this aside. Also take the rest of ingredients. The below picture involves sieved flour,butter,sugar and eggs.

(2) Take butter in a another large bowl. Using electric mixer or hand mixer beat till it becomes soft and creamy.

(3) To this gradually add sugar and beat till it becomes fluffy.

(4) Now add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition till you get a smooth mixture.

(5) Pour vanilla essence to it and beat well till it is combined.

(6) Now add the dry ingredients and milk alternatively to the beaten batter little by little. Beat till you get a light batter(Don't make it too watery or thick. It should be of little dropping consistency). Now your cake batter is ready.

(7) Preheat your oven to 350 degree F. Spray the cake pan( i used a 9 inch pan) with oil and pour the batter into it. Keep in preheated oven. Your cake will be ready in 25 to 30 minutes.

(8) Allow to cool down for 10 minutes and carefully invert it in a rack. Now you can have your cake if you don't want frosting.

Tips:

• I used an electric mixer for beating. You can use a hand mixer or whisk. It takes more time.
• Mind to beat the batter well while adding each ingredients.
• Batter will rise during baking. So always fill batter to half of the pan.
• Keep an eye on the cake after 20 minutes. Avoid over baking.
• The cake will bake in 25 to 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserts come out clean or when you press the centre it will springs back or the side of the cake will get separates from the pan.

Ingredients for Confectioners Frosting:

Confectioners sugar	2 cup/450 gm
Butter	1 cup/225 gm
Milk	4 to 6 tbl spoon
Vanilla essence	1 tspoon

  

for decoration(optional):

Cherry	8
Small candies	as needed

Preparation:

(1) Take butter in a large bowl. Beat till light and creamy.

(2)Now add vanilla extract and beat well till combined. Gradually add confectioners sugar into it and beat well till you get a soft and creamy mixture.

(4) Pour 2 to 4 tbl spoon of milk to it and continue beating. You should make it into a spreading consistency. If you need add more milk to obtain the desired consistency. Your frosting is ready.

(5) Now spread the frosting over the top and side of the cake. I spread it with a knife(It took some time for me to get a polished surface :p).

(6) Design the cake as your wish. I decorated by sprinkling small candies over the top and adding cherries.

Your vanilla-butter cake is now ready with frosting. Enjoy:)