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A plea for support the Fund Drive for Vaidehi Ashram of Destitute Girls, Hyderabad, India

by Sonia on January 28, 2012 in uncategorized

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“Charity begins at home but it should not end there.” – Spanish proverb

Look at those innocent eyes. May be you are thinking that these girls are coming from mine or yours next door, street, city or nation. What’s a big deal? Let me explain you a bit. These girls have no shelter of parents or any guardian.

When Siri contacted me if I am please to join to raise her fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram, Hydrabad, India. Why not? There was no other thought in my mind but help, anyway. Thank you Siri for arranging everything and invited us to join this noble cause. I can imagine your hard efforts you have put behind this. You and your family are truly doing wonderful job! Friends, you can read more about this here and here.

Vaidehi Ashram at Hydrabad, India, is home for about 108 girls (from 3 to 22 years of age) who have no parents or a single parent who can no longer take care of them. Every child deserves their life with lots of love, care, fun, and education. But without having parents or lack of fund, all things are just out of imagination for them.

Will you please join us to help these needy children? We need your humble support and little help to carry this challenge. And, we are throwing 40+ raffle prizes for you in return.

How does this Fund Drive work and How to donate for the cause?

1 raffle ticket = $10 = Rs.500

You can contribute anything via PayPal or Credit. Each $10 donation will you give you one raffle ticket towards a raffle prize of your choice. For example, if you donate $50, that will earn you 5 raffle prizes from the list. You can use all your raffle tickets on one prize (in turn increasing the chances in the lucky draw) or on different prizes.

I am giving away Raghvan Iyer’s fabulous cookbook 660 Curries (raffle code: RW7) to one winner and will be shipping WORLDWIDE. 

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You can find the other beautiful prizes and more information here. Once the donation process is completed, please forward your payment confirmation message to info(dot)siri(at)gmail.com, clearly specifying which raffle prize(s) you are interested in. Within 24 hours, your name and contributed amount will be added to the ‘Fund Drive Supporters List‘ at the very end of this post.

The event will close on 25th February and the Ashram children will choose the winners on 27th February via a random drawing. All the winners will be notified via Email. The winners have to provide and confirm their shipping addresses. The prize sponsors will then send the gifts directly to the winners. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for the prizes to reach you. 

Spread the word

Share about this Fund Drive on your blogs, Facebook, Twitter (with hashtag#vaidehiashram) or any convenient social media. Let your friends and family know about it.

Your support is greatly appreciated. No matter how big or small the sum you raise it will make a real difference to the lives of children.

Thank you very much!

Much love,
Sonia

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Lamingtons Recipe

by Sonia on January 26, 2012 in Dessert & Sweets

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Happy Indian Republic Day! Happy Australia Day! Yes, every 26th January we have double celebration. :-)

I made these beauties to celebrate 3 things together. A New Year (I know it’s too late but it’s still January, okay?), Australia day and Indian Republic day.

These Lamingtons, is a soft sponge cake of Australian origin in the shape of about 4 inch cubes, coated in a layer of chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. These delicious Lamingtons are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream or any fruit jam in between. Since we are not much into jam or jam filling cake so I used the chocolate icing instead.

I knew that making Lamingtons must be easy at home, but I didn’t expect they would come out such a nice and beautiful by all means.  I hardly believe that I made them myself and equally or more better delicious than store bought ones. Boy, the sponge cake is SO good and soft that I ate all the left over that I cut off the sides. You can make the sponge cake ahead of time and coat the cubes into chocolate icing later. Next time, I’ll make the sponge cake 2-3 days ahead to save my energy. The entire process is bit time consuming but I assure you the end result will be surprised you!

Lamingtons Recipe

Adapted from: David Labovitz

[Makes about 12-13 pieces]

I’ve adjusted all ingredients as per my measurement. If you want to go with original recipe go ahead with David’s instructions.

For the sponge cake:
5 large eggs, at room temperature
½ cup (100gm) white sugar
⅛ tsp of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup (136 g) cake flour, first sift then measure
about ¼ cup (2 oz/50 g) melted unsalted butter, at room temperature

For the chocolate icing:
approx.150 gm bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
30 g unsalted butter
½ cup whole milk
1 cup powdered/icing sugar (adjust less or more)
1 tablespoon heap unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1.5 tablespoon boiling water
about 2 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut, fine variety

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How to:

1. For baking sponge cake, you can use your 8×8 or 9×9 inch square glass dish or square bake ware. I used mine, 12×8 inch rectangle lamington dish. Butter your desired cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350ºF/180ºC.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer or hand held mixer whip the eggs and granulated sugar and salt on high speed for about 7-8 minutes, until thick and the batter is become light and fluffy. Almost triple in volume. Stir in the vanilla.

3. Please sift the flour first and then measure. There is a great different between sifted and unsifted measurement. Add the sifted flour little by little and fold very gently using whisk.

4. Finally, fold in the melted butter until it’s incorporate into mixture very well, be careful not to overfold.

5. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Prior to putting the pan in the oven pick your pan up and let them fall on the counter, very gently. This will force the bubbles out of your batter. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. Mine was done in flat 20 minutes. If you’re using 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan it will take few more minutes. Please keep an eye or it will burn out.

6. Remove from the oven and let it cool about 10 mins. Lift up the cake with two side of parchment paper and cool on wire rack completely.

7. Remove the sponge cake onto a cutting board and discard the parchment paper. Trim the ends and cut the cake in half using a serrated bread knife.

Chocolate Icing:

1. When your cake is completely cooled down make the chocolate icing. Melt together the chocolate, butter, and milk in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. It will take about 5 minutes or so to become smooth and velvety. Remove the bowl from the pan of simmering water. Then whisk in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

2. Pour a generous ⅓ cup or more of the chocolate icing over one layer of the sponge cake, then top with the other half of the sponge cake, sandwiching the two together with chocolate icing in the middle.

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3. Cut the cakes into 12 equal squares. Now, whisk 1.5 tablespoons of boiling water into the icing. You’ll notice the icing is become more smoother and silky. Magic touch of boiling water! Keep the desiccated coconut into a shallow & wide bowl or plate.

4. Now, the dirty part is coming. I used my hands. But you can use fork or chopstick to dip the Lamingtons into the chocolate icing, rolling them around to make sure each side is coated with the chocolate icing, then wipe off any excess on the side of the bowl. Place the Lamingtons in the bowl of coconut, tossing them around gently to get them coated really well on all sides.Place the Lamingtons on a wire cooling rack and let stand until the icing firms up a bit.

I don’t suggest to refrigerate them as the layer of coconut makes them bit dry. It tastes best when it’s room temperature. Use within 3-4 days.

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Sloppy Joes Recipe

by Sonia on December 29, 2011 in Sides & Snacks,Vegan Recipes

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Happy Thursday peeps!

Hope you had a great Christmas time and having a wonderful holidays with family, friends, and relatives. In my neck of the woods, it’s quite but we never sacrifice our food. Trying new things in kitchen is always ongoing except some pause. The Melbourne weather has been pretty good these days except last week’s hail and thunderstorms.

I’m SO happy because my most reliable energy booster, the Sun shines brightly in our part.

I’m happy because I can throw my laundry anytime without worrying any dramatic weather.

I’m happy because I can go for a walk or shopping till late evening and can shoot of lovely surroundings.

I’m happy because I’ve been spending more time in my tiny kitchen and trying my hands to new recipes from all sources.

Anyway, this is very quick and easy recipe that become frequent dinner in our home. The original name of this dish is ‘Sloppy Joes‘, an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on a bun or any kind of bread. Sometime in last year, I encountered this recipe through reading Isa’s beautiful book, Veganomicon. If you have some breads on your hand this can be done in no time. I made it more than half dozen times and, eventually I figured out the recipe and have started to add few more spices and garnish things to suit our palette.

The original recipe does not say to add any greens or leafy things. But, I love to add something extra. I would add few pieces of sliced Avocado and greens in between our Sloppy Joes. This recipe is very healthy and lighter to original version. You should try it soon and you’ll know how easy it is and can be made with minimum efforts and time.

* I tried both green (french lentils) and brown lentils and found the green one is worked best. The red lentils is not recommended here as it gets very mushy and doesn’t hold their shape once cooked.

** Sometimes, I choose the healthier option -the simple wholemeal/rye/wholegrain bread to serve.

*** The recipe calls for canned tomatoes but I try to avoid any canned food and prefer fresh vegetables and fruits. If some juicy tomatoes are popping out from my basket I would use them first.

Print Recipe! Print Recipe!
Sloppy or Snobby Joes Recipe
[serves 4 to 6]

Ingredients:

2 C cooked green/brown lentils
1 tbsp oil
1 small onion, cut into small dice
1 green/red capsicum, seeded and cut into small dice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp chili powder, or to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
salt to taste
1 can (8 oz/226grams) canned tomato with sauce or use 3-4 juicy tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp maple syrup, or sugar, adjust to taste
1 tbsp yellow mustard(I didn’t use)

To serve:
7-8 dinner rolls or buns or you could use wholemeal/wholegrain bread too
lettuce or rocket salad
1 Avocado, sliced (optional)

How to:

1. Heat oil in medium sauce pan and sauté onion and bell-pepper for about 7-8 minutes or until softened. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute or so.

2. Stir in the cooked lentils, chili powder, oregano, and salt. Add the tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for about 10-12 mins and now add the maple syrup to taste and the mustard and cook well.

3. Remove from the fire and let it cool down for a bit to blend all the spices and everything. Scoop this prepared mixture in your choice of bun or roll and eat it.

Adapted from Veganomicon
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World Peace Cookies

December 13, 2011
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I really wonder for those people who can balance their life by all means. I really amaze how they manage and control life in all areas – personal and family front, work, social things, blog, house chores, children, and this list could go on. Especially for woman. On top of [...]

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Happy New Year!

October 27, 2011
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First, wishing you a very Happy Deepavali and Prosperous New Year to all Gujarati folks our there! I’ve written this post in between my hustle-bustle of my crazy life. Please pardon any mistake if you find here. I’m late to share my version of Diwali sweets but better late than [...]

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Chai Masala Powder Recipe

October 16, 2011
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Hello friends! How have you been there? I’m well but damn busy with new work and life. I know it’s old excuse but it’s right. I’ve been trying to balance my life and work, plus cooking and photography. I really really missed my blog baby and finally I sit down [...]

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Hello!

June 20, 2011

Hello world! Moving to new house + packing + arranging + cleaning + unpacking + re-arranging + adjusting in new house + NEW job + adjusting in new work place + cooking+ and lots more going on and on… = no energy and time left for blogging activity. Everything is [...]

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