Cakes and cookies can also be healthy, as in these low-fat recipes by Ratti and
Nirvan
Wondering
where to go for low fat, 'healthy' cakes and cookies this festive season?
'Healthy' sounds strange if you are a chocoholic, but not if you opt for
Ratti Sharma and Nirvan Shroff's baked yummies. The two sisters vouch
for their low-calorie healthy cookies and cakes. "We use an imported
nondairy low fat cream, which does not get spoiled even if kept for long
periods," says Ratti. Chips in Nirvan: "Our 'knickknacks' are
ideal for health-conscious people as well as for kids' lunch boxes."
No wonder, their hands are full with round-the-clock orders of their popular
Date & Nut Torte, Carrot Cake, Apple Pie, Chocolate Walnut Pie, Butter
Cookies with Raisins among other wide assortment of goodies. Delicious!
How did they start this baking venture? The desire to do something worthwhile
and creative. "We had plenty of time at our disposal and we realized the
need for reasonably priced, healthy cakes of good quality," inform the duo,
daughters of C.R. Irani, editor-in-chief of The Statesman. It started with experiments
on mom's recipes and taking small orders from friends. Till one day, a popular
American chain of restaurants liked their goodies and decided to make them their
dessert caterers. And Pudding & Pie was born. All desserts, cakes and puddings
are baked in hygienic conditions under the duo's constant supervision.
Method:Preheat
oven to 350º F/ 180º C/ Gas mark 4. Melt margarine and sugar in a pan
on low heat. Let it cool. Mix together with the flour and the coconut. Fold in
the cornflakes and the lemon rind. Place on a baking tray. Bake for 30-35 minutes
or until light golden in color. Cool in tin. Cut in squares before serving.
OAT
COOKIES Ingredients: 110 gm Butter ½
tsp Soda bicarbonate 110 gm Demerara sugar 110 gm Rolled oats 50
gm Golden syrup 25 gm Walnuts (finely chopped) 110 gm Flour (sifted)
Method: Put butter, sugar and syrup in a saucepan and stir on low heat
till all the ingredients blend. Let this mixture cool. Sift the flour with the
soda bicarbonate and stir in the rolled oats and walnuts. Pour the melted butter
mixture and make soft dough. Form about 30 small balls and place on greased baking
trays, keeping space for them to spread. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown. Serve
hot.
BRAN
SCONES Ingredients: 350 gm Whole meal flour (atta)
75 gm Brown sugar 75 gm Bran 1 Egg (beaten) 1 tbsp Baking powder
300 ml Milk75 gm Butter or margarine
Method: Preheat
oven to 220º C/ 425º F. Mix flour, bran and baking powder together.
Rub in butter or margarine until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir
in sugar. Add the egg and enough milk to make soft dough. Knead lightly, place
on a floured surface and roll out a ¾ inch thick crust. Cut it into circles
and place on a greased baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes
TIPS FOR BAKING To measure solid fat, fill a measuring cup with a certain amount of
water, add fat till the cup is full. For instance, to measure ½ cup fat,
fill half cup with water, then add fat till the cup is full. Pour off the water
and there is only half cup fat left.
Roll out pastry between two
sheets of butter paper lightly dusted with flour. It will be easier to roll.
If the sides of a fruitcake have burnt slightly, carefully rub off
the burnt section with a knife. Sprinkle a little sherry and wrap in aluminum
foil. The burnt smell and taste will disappear.
By refrigerating
egg whites, you can reduce the time required to beat them.
Beat
cream with 1 tsp of honey instead of sugar to get a firmer texture.
A few drops of lemon juice added while creaming butter and sugar would hasten
the process.