Granola Yogurt Parfait

Granola is the most healthiest and easy breakfast food that I am hitched onto. Pair it with a silky smooth Greek Yogurt , throw some fruits of your choice like banana, strawberries, blueberries to get the best flavor out of it. Before some months When I used to see someone posting a Granola Recipe , I used to wonder what are these. After a bit of searching, I came to know that Granola consists of rolled oats, different nuts , honey or other sweeteners which are then baked until it is crisp and golden brown. Any dry fruits can be added in the granola like pecans,pine nuts, walnuts, raisins, dates etc. Granola can be used as a breakfast or as an evening snacks or it could be eaten throughout the day, because of it’s nutritious nature . Many people make it in the bar form so that it can be easily packed and carried for outdoor activities. You can also add flax seeds, sunflower seeds , melon seeds in the mix which improves our digestion.

Though Granola is easily accessible through any Departmental Stores, I prefer to make my Granola at home which is not only cheaper than the store brought ones, it is way healthier and tastier also. The most important component of the Granola is the Oats or Oatmeal or Oat bran which is a significant source of dietary fibre which contains a mixture of soluble and non soluble fibres. Beta –glucans is a soluble fibre found in oats which has proven to lower the blood cholesterol. Try to incorporate rolled oats rather than quick cooking oats which will fail to hold up the entire binding process. You can add other dry ingredients like pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds,  coconut flakes, flax seeds. 

To get a nice balance of flavor and texture, I follow the 6:1 ratio of 6 parts dry ingredients to 1 part wet ingredient. Out of my 6 parts of dry ingredients, I mix 3 parts of Oats, 1 Parts of nuts, 1 parts of seeds and I parts of fruits or dryfruits. Coming back to wet ingredients, I prefer my Maple syrup and Sunflower oil which is needed to coat the grains, nuts and seeds in sugar and fat and most importantly helps them to bind together. But in this recipe I have for the first time used extra virgin coconut oil and Maple Syrup.Coming back to Maple Syrup, which is one of the more popular sweeteners today as it claims to be more nutritious and healthier than sugar. The main thing that sets maple syrup apart from refined sugar, is that though both are made of 2/3^rdsucrose, the glycemic index score of maple syrup is about 54 compared to 65 for regular cane sugar.( Source: https://draxe.com/maple-syrup-nutrition). Compared to refined cane sugar which has absolutely no nutrients, maple syrup in that case contains some important antioxidants and minerals like Zinc and Manganese. 

 Recently I have been associated with Plattershare under their “Belly Nirvana” Associate programme where I have received the Coombs Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup from GoIndiaOrganic - India’s only platform that provides premium, exclusive & extra-ordinary naturally organic food products.  Maple syrup is made from the sugary circulating fluid (sap) of maple trees and over 80% of the world’s supply of Maple syrup is produced in Canada. You can find different grades of Maple syrup available in the market, which is Grade-A and Grade-B. Grade-A is further classified into Light Amber, Medium Amber and Dark Amber and Grade B is the darkest of them all.  Darker maple syrups are made from sap which is extracted later in the harvesting seasons and it has a stronger maple flavor for which it is mainly used in baking and other cooked recipes , while the lighter maple syrup can be used directly on pancakes, crepes etc.

Spices plays a major role in making Granola and I always use Cinnamon, ground ginger, Nutmeg, a bit of cloves in my Granola to perk up it’s taste. Besides the spices, I also use Dried Cherries, Raisins and sometimes apricot in my Granola but I add them after baking to avoid the drying of the fruits. The best thing about Granola is that you can customize it from making it more/less sweet, more/less spicy, more/less fruity and do not limit your imagination , go ahead and make your own Granola and for a reference you can always refer my recipe below.

Recipe Type: Breakfast/ Snack

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 to 30 minutes

Yields: 1 medium Jar

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup pistachios
• ½ cup shredded coconuts
• ½ cup raisin and cherries
• ¼ cup melon seeds
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup virgin coconut oil
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/4tsp ginger powder
• ¼ tsp nutmeg powder
• a pinch of clove powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 400 grams vanilla flavored Greek yogurt

Let's Learn How to Make this :

• Pre heat oven to 200 degree C.

• Combine the oats, walnuts, pistachios, melon seeds, carrots, grated coconut, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and salt in a large mixing bowl. Toss well till they are perfectly combined.

• Transfer these mixture to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes and when it is halfway through, do not forget to stir it before the final round of baking.

• Remove from the oven and let it cool and comes to room temperature. Then add raisins and dried cherries and toss to combine.

• Divide the toasted granola among serving bowls, glasses or even jar like the way I did.Pour the Greek yogurt over it and place some more granola on top along with some fresh cherries. Serve immediately.

• Enjoy this homemade granola immediately, or store in a sealed container and store in a cool place for up to 2 weeks.

This granola parfait is going to be a part of our 46th #Bloghop theme of #dryfruits.

Coconut Cookies using Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Plattershare is a holistic food social media platform which connects food enthusiasts to share their passion for food. Be it Home-Chefs, Professional Chefs, Food Bloggers, Food Professionals or Foodies who love to appreciate the taste and aroma of dishes around the world. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Plattershare for coming up with an Associate Program named as “BellyNirvana” which helps us associate and connect with various Food and Kitchen brands across the country and gives us an opportunity to try brand new and innovative food products and gadgets; and all this from the comfort of our homes.

Plattershare under their “Belly Nirvana” Associate programme has associated with GoIndiaOrganic - India’s only platform that provides premium, exclusive & extra-ordinary naturally organic food products and I am fortunate enough to have received Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil and under "Plattershare Belly Nirvana Association Program". When I received this product I was a bit skeptical as coconut oil is hardly used in our Odia households. Despite being an coastal area and abundantly availability of coconut , we hardly has explored it’s culinary use . But I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the pack and the light fragrance of coconut oil has taken back to my childhood days when my mother used to prepare this type of oil at home and that was so pure that she used to use it for skin care but never have used it for cooking. This Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil which is not only organic, it is also unrefined, cold pressed making it ideal for baking and cooking as well as great for skincare, hair care and massage.

Coconut oil has emerged as the new olive oil. This is an excellent source of lauric acid and medium chain triglycerides for your healthy diet and body care routine. Coconut oil is now being promoted for it’s protection against heart diseases. Though I am not qualified to speak on it’s health benefits, I do believe it to be healthy and that’s why I have decided to use this product in my kitchen. It’s a great way to replace fat intake and definitely enhance the flavours and textures of the food. If you would like to see how I have incorporated  this coconut oil into my cooking, do follow the recipe below.

Recipe Type: Baking

Prep Time: 10 minutes

cooking Time: 12 to 15 minutes

Yields: 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all Purpose flour
• 2tsp baking Powder
• A pinch of salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder
• ¼ cup Nutiva Virgin Coconut Oil
• ¾ cup milk
• 1/4 cup grated coconut
• ½ cup castor sugar
• few Cherries for garnishing

 

Let’s Learn how to make these Coconut Cookies

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line a parchment paper on the baking tray.
• Mix the All purpose Flour, castor sugar, salt, baking powder, grated coconut, cinnamon Powder in a bowl and mix well.
• Now slowly pour the coconut oil and combine everything so that it resembles fine crumbs.
• Now pour the milk and mix the dough until it is completely combined to form a ball. But do not over knead.
•  Transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll out until it is ½ inch thick. With the help of a cookie cutter , cut out the cookies. Place a slice of cherries on each cookies. Transfer these to a baking sheet, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
• Enjoy these coconut cookies with a cup of tea  with your family.

 

Last but not the least, I would like to thank GoIndiaOrganic  for sending across this  extra virgin coconut oil which I LOVE and would like to use it in my kitchen more often in preparing traditional and non traditional food. I mostly  love the flavour and the tenderness it lends to baked goods.

Orange and Poppy seed Cake

Juicy and sweet and renowned for its concentration of vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special tang to many recipes; it is no wonder that this is one of the most popular fruits in the world. Oranges are generally available from winter through summer with seasonal variations depending on the variety. Sweet, juicy oranges make a delicious and healthy snack or addition to a meal. Oranges not only  boost our immune system and improve our skin; they also reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and kidney stones.

Orange juice is also packed with nutrients but does not contain the fiber of a whole orange. Orange pith, the white substance between the peel and the flesh, is high in fiber. Did I say Orange Juice? Yes, With rising health concerns and increasing awareness about the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, juicing has become a way of life. This brings with it the wonder product which makes our everyday life easy......The Philips citrus juicer for the kitchen.....Many of us would definitely agree that with the fast paced life , keeping pace with the daily nitty gritties of life...Gadgets/Appliances play a major role in our life. They not only makes our life easier but also helps in minimizing wastage. Coming to this let me remind you , this product has come to me as a winning gift for my recipe made during Navaratri called Kiwifruit sandesh.

The Philips citrus juicer  HR2771 is a good quality citrus juicer for your kitchen. This juicer is designed with a two-way rotation mode that allows you to extract the maximum amount of juice from your fruit, minimizing wastage. Juicing is also easy and convenient with this press as everything from juice, to the pulp, to fruit seeds are separated in the Philips citrus press.Citrus Press is an easy way to have fresh juice ready in a matter of seconds. Its 500 ml jar comes with own volume indicator that shows you exactly how much juice has been extracted. It comes with two-way random rotation that ensures maximum juice extraction. This Philips citrus press has provision for juicing both big and small fruits, with its double cone feature.

This citrus press also has a pulp selector option that helps to extract juice as efficiently as possible. Its cord winds up inside the device, which prevents it from getting damaged. It is also easy to maintain as it only requires timely cleaning with a damp cloth. It also has a drip stop feature that prevents the juice from dripping continually.This Philips citrus press has a relative low noise level while it is functioning, which is a beneficial feature. It has a handle that makes it easy for you to pour out the juice that is inside the built-in jug. The juicer is made of white plastic and has a red volume indicator. The unit is also inclusive of its own power adapter, instruction manual and warranty card.

Now coming back to the orange juice , the orange juice can be just as beneficial as eating the fruit whole, provided it is 100% natural, and is not loaded with preservatives, additives, and sugar. The closest thing to eating an whole orange would be drinking a glass of  freshly squeezed orange juice. In all possible way we should avoid frozen orange juice, canned orange juice, or concentrate, because with all of the processing, it loses a considerable amount of the natural goodness. So the best way is to Go natural and make sure you are getting all of the benefits of this miraculous and delicious fruit juice.

• Orange juice is an amazing drink for the patients of high or low blood pressure as this delicious drink contains a significant amount of magnesium which has a wonderful ability to bring back the disturbed blood pressure level to normal range.
• Orange juice acts as a best defender against several diseases such as flu or colds promoting the immune system due to the presence of vitamin C.
• Oranges contain flavonoids  which are anti-inflammatory stuffs heal the stiffness and pain.

• The risks of formation of kidney stones can be reduced by taking one serving of orange juice on regular basis. 
• This citrus fruit is full of antioxidants, which act efficiently to lose weight.
• Oranges contain hesperidin  in sufficient amount, which lower risks of heart attacks. 
• Orange juice provides a good quantity of vitamin C that promotes the absorption of iron into blood stream thereby preventing anemia. 
• The antioxidant properties of orange juice make the skin fresh, beautiful and young-looking by preventing the aging effects. 

Now coming back to the Orange Juice which I have prepared with the help of my Citrus maker, I had baked a  fresh  Orange Cake as a Birthday Present. This cake is very simple to make and since its egg less, anyone can have it too.

Ingredients:

• 11/2 cup All Purpose flour
• 3/4th cup Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Oil
• 1/3rd cup Yogurt
• Finely grated rind of one orange
• 1/2 cup fresh Orange Juice
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Orange Essence(Optional)
• 11/2 teaspoon Poppy seed

For Orange Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 cup Fresh Orange juice

Let's Learn How to make this Cake:

• Preheat the oven to 160 degree. Grease and lightly flour a cake tin.
• Shift the All Purpose Flour, baking powder, Baking Soda thoroughly.
• Cream the oil and sugar together until fluffy, then add the yogurt gradually, beating continuously.
• Stir in the Orange rind and poppy seed.
• Add the flour and fold in evenly. lastly add the Orange Juice and mix everything just once.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or un till a toothpick comes out clean.
• Leave to cool the in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool.
• For the Orange syrup, place the sugar and orange juice in a saucepan and heat gently un till the sugar melts.
• Bring this to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes or untill it is reduced to a syrup consistency.
• Pour the syrup over the cake while it is still warm. top it with strips of orange Zest and serve warm or cold.