Dates Achaar

Dates Achar

What you need to get started?

Chopped Dates -  1 and 1/2 cup
Ginger (julienne style) - 1 and 1/2 tbl spoon
Garlic ( sliced thin) - 1 and 1/2 tbl spoon
Curry leaves -  Generous 2 sprigs
Sesame Oil -  1 cup
Mustard Seeds -  1 tbl spoon
Chilli powder -  3 tbl spoon
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Fenugreek Powder - 1/4 tsp and a little more
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Vinegar 1/2 cup approx - adjust to suit your taste
Jaggery - 1/4 cup approx - adjust to suit your taste
Salt - to taste


Method:

1. Heat Oil
2. Add mustard seeds and let it splutter
3. Add curry leaves.
4. Add ginger, garlic and saute.
5. Add chilli powder, tumeric powder. asafoetida and fenugreek powder and saute.
6. Add chopped dates and saute, let it cook well for 5-7 minutes on medium flame.
7. Add salt.
8. Add the vinegar and once it starts boiling, add the jaggery. ( add to adjust according to your taste)

Carrot Date Cake

Carrot Date Cake 

( Moist and Chewy Carrot Date Cake)

What you need to get started?

Flour -  1 cup
Baking Soda - 3/4 tsp
Salt - a pinch
Eggs - 2 large
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Sugar -  1/2 cup to make caramel
Canola Oil - 3/4 cup
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp
Grated Carrots -  1 cup
Chopped Dates -  1 cup
Sliced Cashew Nuts - 1/2 cup

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• First Start with the Caramel, this gives it time to cool while putting together the rest of the ingredients.
• In a saucepan, heat the 1/2 cup sugar in medium flame. Do not stir. Swirl the saucepan on and off.
• When the sugar has melted and the desired color of caramel has been achieved, add 1/4 cup hot water and set aside to cool.
• Beat the eggs and sugar until creamy and smooth.
• Add vanilla extract and oil to the above liquid mixture and mix well.
• Add the cooled caramel syrup to the above mixture and mix well again.
• Add the baking soda to the flour and sift well and add this to the liquid mixture and stir well.
• Save one spoon of dates for later, and add the chopped dates, carrots and cashew nuts to the above batter and stir well.
• Add  1/2 tablespoon of flour to the tablespoon of dates that was set aside and add to the cake mixture.
• Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 - 45 mins.

Enjoy the chewy yummy Carrot Date Cake.  :-)