semolina Gulkand Cake is a light snack cake with robust Indian flavours. Gulkand (rose preserve) adds a beautiful flavor and taste to the cake. Pistachios and almonds in every bite make it a delectable snack cake.




It has almost been three months since we shifted to our homestead. We are loving life in the Himalayan village. There is so much to learn and know. We have been tending to our garden and have planted Dahlias, daisy, hydrangeas, Lilium, lilies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and geranium. 



Every flower that blossoms spread so much happiness and positivity. 


The Dahlias are coming up well and the butterflies love them.

We have been getting grass from the forest every day to prepare our lawn. Wild grass is growing in the forest in abundance; we get bunches of them and plant in our lawn. It is picking up well and will spread in monsoons and hopefully by autumn, we shall have a lush lawn. 


While returning from the forest last evening, we saw a group of Himalayan Black Bulbuls on top of a pear tree.

Back home, the kids wanted me to bake a cake for them. Baking is a therapy for tired nerves. Keeping in mind the things we had in stock, we baked a Semolina Gulkand Cake. 



Every home baker at some time or the other has baked a Semolina cake. It is easy to bake, it is healthy and needs basic ingredients that are always there at home. Semolina adds a lovely texture to the cakes. Semolina cake is filling and makes a good snack cake and a great accompaniment to a cup of tea.


We had gulkand (rose preserve) at home and we added generously to the cake batter. We also added cardamoms, almonds, and pistachios.  The cake turned out to be delightful with robust Indian flavours. Gulkand did the magic.




Semolina Gulkand Cake (Eggless)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup+ 2 tablespoons fine semolina
  • 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup raw unrefined sugar
  • ½ cup thick yogurt
  • ¼ cup milk (a little more to get the right consistency later)
  • ½ cup oil (scant)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 5-6 green cardamoms (seeds powdered)
  • 5 tablespoons gulkand (rose preserve)
  • ¼ cup chopped pistachios
  • ¼ cup chopped almonds

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together first six ingredients to get a smooth mixture.
  2. Cover and let rest for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven at 180 degrees C. Grease and line one 9 inch round cake pan.
  4. Add gulkand and cardamom powder to the semolina mixture. Gulkand should mix well. There should  be no lumps in the batter.
  5. Check the consistency. If it is too thick add 2-3 tablespoons milk.
  6. Add baking powder and baking soda. Mix well.
  7. Fold in chopped pistachios and almonds.
  8. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top turns golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.  Remove from the pan and cool in the rack.
  10. Slice when cold.

 Note:
  •   Use a 9-inch cake pan. It will not bake well in a smaller cake pan.
  •   You may also add 1/2 cup desiccated coconut to the batter. 









Summer in the hills is enchanting. From early summer to late summer, the orchards are the center of activity. Late spring is the time when Plum, Peach, and Apricot trees are in profuse bloom. The bees and butterflies are buzzing and moving from tree to tree collecting nectar and in the process pollinating the flowers. A lot of wildflowers grow all over the hills that also attract bees. It is nature’s way of accomplishing pollination. Some small birds flitting through the branches also play a role in pollination.


This year we had riotous fruition of Apricots. We have three varieties of apricots that ripen at different time. 


The best fruits are the ones that ripen naturally on the tree. Every morning, it’s a ritual to walk to the orchard, shake the branches to get the ripe fruits off the tree. And,  there is a shower of fruits on the dew-laden grass. 


Since there is an excess of fruit, we send some to our friends, eat to our heart's content and love to preserve some by making Jam.


Apricot jam is delicious. It has a unique taste. It is relished even more when the fruit season is over.
The quantity of sugar according to the general rule is three fourth cup for every cup of fruit puree. This is important because if you use less sugar, it may not jell properly.
Crack open a few apricot kernels and add one to each jar before pouring in the jam. This gives the jam a bitter and subtle almond-like flavor.


Apricot Jam

Ingredients

  • 1 kg fresh apricots
  • Water (just enough to cover the fruit)
  • Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice


Instructions

  1. Wash the apricots.
  2. Cut into two. Remove the pits. Crack open some kernels and put one in each jam jar you plan to fill.
  3. Place apricots in a thick bottom pan. Add water just enough to cover the fruit. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium heat stirring frequently until the apricots are tender and cooked. Turn off the heat.
  4. Mash the apricots with a fork.
  5. Measure the puree. For one cup of puree, take three fourth cup of sugar (use the cup of the same volume for measuring sugar).
  6. Keep a plate in the freezer.
  7. Cook on medium flame without the lid. Keep stirring in between.
  8. In the later stages, the jam will thicken and reduce. Stir continuously to avoid burning at the bottom.
  9. When the jam looks thick and falls from the ladle in blobs, turn off the heat.
  10. Put a small amount of jam on the chilled plate. Put it back in the freezer for 5 minutes. Push the jam back with your index finger. If it wrinkles and collects, it is done. Or else, cook for some more time until you get this consistency.
  11. Add lemon juice. Mix well.
  12. While the jam is cooling, sterilize the washed bottles.
  13. Place the washed and dried bottles with the lids in the oven. Set the temperature to 100 degrees and set the timer to 10 minutes. Remove the bottles and their lids from the oven.
  14. Fill the jam in the warm
    sterilized bottles while the jam is hot.
  15. Leave the bottle to cool. Keep in a cool dry place. Refrigerate after opening.









Monsoon in the hills has a great charm. Fog rolling down the hills, floating clouds, changing skyscapes, cool weather, wildflowers, wild mushrooms, birds and the list just goes on. Nature wields its magic wand and everything looks so enchanting.




It is a bliss to have wild daisies growing around our homestead for the last three months. 
The flowers add so much beauty, color, and happiness. 
Wild daisies have been attracting a multitude of butterflies.


After a heavy downpour, it cleared up late evening. Clouds formed lovely patterns on the sky that kept changing constantly. We walked to the top of the cliff to capture the beauty of the sky.


Plums are ripening in the orchard. Purple plums look so beautiful and we love to shake the branches to get the ripe ones. Far in the other end of the orchard, we spotted a Grey Winged Blackbird on the branch of the oldest plum tree.


Next day being Sunday, we decided on a little indulgent lunch. Bhatura with mushroom curry and green coriander chutney was finalized. Bhatura is a very popular north Indian deep fried bread. It is generally made with maida (all-purpose flour) and yogurt. It is served with chickpea curry. The combination of Bhatura and Chole (chickpea curry with spices) is heavenly.


We made Bhatura with whole wheat flour and yeast. Slightly sweet and yeasty flavoured Bhatura is simply out of the world. We ate a hot Bhatura straight out of the wok and loved it.  Lunch was a treat. Bhatura paired deliciously with mushroom curry and chutney.

Whole Wheat Bhature

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • ¼ cup of warm water
  • 4 tablespoons curd
  • Warm water (for kneading dough)
  • Oil (for frying)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, take water, sugar, and yeast. Stir to dissolve sugar. Cover and keep for 10 minutes. It should turn frothy.
  2. In another bowl, mix flour and salt. Add oil. Mix well.
  3. Add yeast mixture and mix. The flour should resemble bread crumbs.
  4. Now add curd. Add warm water and knead for 5 -6 minutes to get a smooth dough.
  5. Transfer dough into a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Keep in a warm place for one hour or until double. Punch and knead again.
  6. Cover and keep in a warm place for 30 minutes or until puffy.
  7. Heat oil in a wok. 
  8. Take small portions of dough, about the size of a tennis ball. Roll into a ball.  Take a few drops of oil on the counter. Flatten the balls and with a rolling pin roll out into circles of the desired size. Keep them thick.
  9. Fry in hot oil. Press with a ladle while frying. This helps them fluff up. Fry on both the sides until golden.
  10. Place Bhatura on a plate lined with the napkin to remove excess oil. Serve hot.

Note: If you are making Bhature in winter or rainy season, the dough will take a longer time to double.

Linking to #BreadBakers

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

BreadBakers

We take turns hosting each month choosing the theme/ingredient.
Our host this month is Sneha Datar who blogs at Sneha's Recipe. Her blog had lovely recipes.
She chose to bake fried yeasted bread this month.
Check out fried yeasted breads made by the other members




  • Batterway Drop Doughnuts from Sara's Tasty Buds


  • Buttermilk Beignets from Anybody Can Bake


  • Fried Jalapeño Corn Puffs from Food Lust People Love


  • Mochi Doughnuts from All That's Left Are The Crumbs


  • PÄ…czki from A Messy Kitchen


  • Samoan German Buns from Gayathri's Cook Spot


  • Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Jelly Donuts) from Karen's Kitchen Stories


  • Whole Wheat Bhatura from Ambrosia


  • Yeasted Bhatura from Sneha's Recipe





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