Cauliflower Stems Chutney

Ingredients :
Stems of 1 cauliflower(i used 2 1/2 cups of finely chopped stems)
1 large tomato, cut into chunks
5 green chillis slit length wise
1 small onion finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons oil
Salt according to taste
For seasoning 1 : 
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon dhaniya seeds
2 tablespoons urad dal
2 tablespoons chana dal
3 fenugreek seeds
11 dry red chillis
A handful of curry leaves
For final seasoning :
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
A pinch of mustard seeds
1 teaspoon urad dal
1 teaspoon chana dal
5 curry leaves
1 dry red chilli
1/2 tablespoon oil
1/2 tablespoon ghee (optional)
A pinch of asafoetida


Directions :
1. Remove stems of cauliflower and wash them properly.Now, finely chop them into small pieces. Keep aside.

2. Now, in a pan heat 1/2 tablespoon of oil on medium heat. 
3. Add the ingredients of Seasoning 1. First add fenugreek seeds,2 tablespoons of urad dal and chana dal. Then add cumin seeds and dhaniya seeds.Finally add dry red chillis and curry leaves. Fry till urad dal gets nice color. Transfer to a plate and let it cool.
4. In the same pan add 1 tablespoon oil and heat on medium high. Add onions and green chillis and fry till they are transperent.
5. Now, add the cauliflower stems and sprinkle some salt. Cover and cook till the stems are soft, stirring occasionally. 
6. After the stems are cooked add the tomatoes. Cover and cook till raw flavour of tomatoes is gone.
7. Once the tomatoes are cooked, remove from heat and transfer the stems to a plate and let it cool.
8. Now, in a blender first add seasoning 1, which we set aside for cooling and add little salt. Blend into a course powder. Now, to this add the cauliflower stems and blend again.
9. Do not blend into a very smooth paste. It should be a course paste.
10. Now, in a pan, add 1/2 tablespoon oil and add the final seasoning ingredients. Fry till urad dal gets nice color and remove from heat and add the chutney to the seasoning and mix well. Check for salt and add more if required.
11. Transfer into a bowl and top it with 1/2 tablespoon of ghee.
12. Serve with hot rice.


Note : You can reduce the amount of chillis used according your taste.

BM # 4 DAY 2 : Banana Pound Cake

I had some very ripe bananas with me , i din't want them to go waste so i thought i will make a banana cake ... here we go ...
Ingredients :

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons corn starch or corn flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter(2 sticks)
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening(if you dont have shortening, use 1 stick butter.I used butter.) 
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 5 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon imitation banana extract(if you dont have this, then add 2 more bananas)
• 1/2 cup milk
• Chopped nuts (optional, i used hazelnuts and walnuts)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar(optional)
• 
  

Directions :

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, corn starch and salt in a bowl. Sift and set aside. Grease and flour a cake pan and keep aside.

3. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next.

4. Add the bananas and beat in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of banana extract.

5. Now slowly beat in the sifted flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing until just incorporated.

6. Pour half the batter into prepared pan and layer with chopped nuts and pour rest of the batter on top. Top the batter with more nuts if you want.

7. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

8. Let the cake cool in the pan for 15minutes. Remove from pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

9. Dust the cake with powdered sugar and serve .

Diabetes Diet/Management: Srivalli, Champa, Harini, PJ
Kid Friendly Recipes: Kalyani, Shylaja, Veena
Seven Days of Soup:Usha, Sowmya  
30 Minutes Meals: Priya Suresh  
Seven days of Cakes:  Anusha

2. Beat butter(and shortening), and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy.