Muffin Time!

So I know I haven’t been writing much lately but I was just a little busy with my fiancé since he is at home most days and university is only getting more and more stressful I thought I  better concentrate for the next month and then actually enjoy my wedding without any stress about the university work.

I picked up a few silicone muffin cups today I was supposed to bake a cake for my cosin Pooja’s birthday but I decided that Id rather not bake on her birthday since it was a week day and a lot of other friends were coming too. I dint wanna mess up her party or steal the thunder so we bought a readymade cake for it but I still had all the ingredients so I decided to make mini muffins for the family. I wish Raj was here to eat um... but anyways this was one of the first times I had made muffins.. they came out perfect. Below is the recipe for it..

Banana Muffins

Preheat oven at Gas mark 3  ; 160 degree C

Flour – 2cups

Baking Powder – 1 tbsp

Baking Soda – ½ tbsp**

Salt – 1tsp

Walnuts – ½ cups

Raisins – 2tbsp

Sugar – 1cup*

Oil – 2/3 cup

Eggs – 3no.

Ripe Bananas ( mashed) – 4

Muffin tray greased and floured. 

·         Mix together the flour , baking powder , baking soda, salt, sugar and oil

·         Beat them together nicely

·         Add the eggs and beat a little more

·         Mix the nuts , raisins and mashed bananas and beat again together.

      Transfer the batter to the prepared tray or muffin cups.

*I used just ½ a cup because I don’t like my cakes too sweet

** I dint have Baking Powder so I just used a tbsp of Soda Bicarbonate or baking soda instead.

 You can use a cake tray too and make it a round cake and use some icing to decorate if made as birthday cake. Also chocolate chip cookies can be added to the muffins.

Design Design Homes Design!

So I tried the cookies I had baked from yesterday and I would suggest you add little less sugar and more honey because mine turned out very very sweet almost have to only eat them with milk.

Was browsing through the forums on thenest.com and I came across a really amazing Blog someone had suggested for Organization skills. This woman is my Godess... she seems to run and keep her home exactly how I have always wanted to keep mine.. with time and effort I hope to learn and become as compitent as her. 

You can grab urself some tips from here too http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/2008/03/getting-ready-for-party.html

My sweetheart is flying back from Boston to Charlotte today and this weekend in a long time will be the only weekend we wont talk much.. well thats not too much of a disappointment since hez busy with the boys gives a chance to start working out how to organize the invitations and send them all out.  I will definately be uploading more on the invitations this weekend... When we will finally be able to start sending them out.. as an Indian there are soo many traditions I have to follow almost feel like giving up on them sometimes... but well anyways! I guess as long as it works out according to how I want it to be.. its gna be fine...

My recipe folder is finally looking great in shape today... Had some vege chilli at a really cool American style sandwich bar today! that was one of the most filling meals I have had in a really long time.. Also came across one really cool poster I want to get printed and have up in my house. I wasnt able to upload the poster but you can find it at http://designismine.blogspot.com/

This is blog is really cool for some good interior design pictures and other photo Art.

Thats it from me today I promise to make sure the next post isnt soo boring...

Boredom lead to cookie heaven

So I was really bored last night and id had enough of reading about Cultures and how they have an impact upon advertising... So i had seen a recipe earlier yesterday which I decided to have a go at..

You can get the reciepe from 

                  Baking blonde

Honey Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar (for rolling)

Preheat oven to 300. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl combine flour, soda, and salt.
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the honey and cream well.
Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just encorporated. Finish by hand if needed. Do not over mix the dough.

Chill dough for 10 minutes.

Drop dough by rounded spoonfulls into bowl of sugar and roll to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until edged are golden and set.
Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transfering to rack to cool completely.  

I decided to have a go... they dint turn out bad at all.  Ive saved them in a jar for my dad.. unfortunately my dearest husband wont get a chance to try them!! :( the dough tasted very nice on its own too... very easy to make and can be made in simply an hour.. :) 

Will definately be baking them again :) 

My finds

Getting ready for the wedding and the big changes in life.. I decided it was time to clear out all the junk I had lying around from back in college and everywhere else.

I found a few pieces of work I did back when I was in College for my Graphic design course. I instantly knew they were pieces I could take back to Charlotte with me and we could decorate our lovely home with some of... I think I am going to get them framed - They would make fantastic pieces for the empty Hallway walls.. I'm thinking one them might not look too bad in the Guest bathroom although still contemplating that with myself.. 

I'm such a big photo lover I get worried that the art work should not take over my photo wall space... I'm sure I'll find a way around both of them... 

The Leicester one will always remind me of my lovely city of Leicester which I super glad to be leaving... 

Easy Treat...

I just learnt how to make rice flake balls from my mom... This is a simple recipe and a great snack for wen ur craving some sweet...

Its simple to make and takes less than 20 mins...

500 grams of Rice Flakes

2 cups of Jaggery

1 large cup of Ghee or unsalted butter

Heat some rice flakes in a bowl and once crisp remove and allow to cool.. 

In a bowl add the Jaggery and the ghee and allow it to melt once the mixture is completely melted and mixed in thoroughly add the rice flakes in.

Mix well together and form large balls while the mixture is still warm ( Be careful that the mixture does not get cold because the balls will be impossible to form)

Serve with Chai tea or Cafe Latte 

Can be eaten warm or cold. 

Ill be adding more recipes to this in the coming days :) 

Organising my life or I should get used to saying Organizing my life

The last few days have made me realise how Ive grown up all of a sudden.. as the wedding comes closer with just 6 weeks to it... i keep getting more and more scared of what next...

Ive seen myself become quite the homebody lately... ive tried to dedicate my school hours to studying and then at home I try to organize this new life im about to start in Charlotte, North Carolina.... waiting for the immigration papers to come through... is just reminding me of how much is still left to be done by me... in terms of paperwork.. preparation.. and what not.. I think im going to get myself completely prepared mentally and bureacratically in terms of paper work required... closing bank accounts.. ending any contracts and shutting down myself from the life i built here in Leicester, England in the past few years... I am only looking forward to getting started on my new life at my new home in Charlotte... with my loving husband and wonderful mother... ( in law)

Ive already made soo many ideas in my head about what my new house is going to look like.. I just recently made a purchase at overstock.com im not a hundread percent sure yet.. but I think im going to make a lovely neutral coloured guest room.. which can be exactly how I like it.. with neutral colours and I probably will put this lovely piece in there.

 The new ikea store in charlotte will be earning a lot of money from us.. as Im predicting there will be many trips to IKEA by the time we are completely done with the house.. I am extremely excited to attend flea markets and go to old antique stores to find the unique pieces I wont find else where.. I really want a chest for my drawing room as a coffee table so i can store my knic knacks in there as well as have a unique look to my home..  watch out for this space I will uploading more things here shortly.

I have also been updating my recipe folder which used to be an old ring binder before I have finally managed to find the time to get a proper folder with pockets for appetisers; snacks;cakes;breads;main course ; indian ; chinese etc. 

Im extremely excited for all the cooking im looking forward to do...

Thats it from me today.. i better get back to organizing everything I have to... ill try to be more up to date with my blogging from now onwards..