Spicy Brinjal Curry

This is THE awesomest Brinjal recipe EVER! I pretty much copied the recipe step by step from this blog that has amazing Andhra recipes - www.Talimpu.com. Talimpu stands for Tadka or Seasoning!

The only substitution I made was to use tamarind paste instead of fresh tamarind. Seriously AWESOME!

Try it! Cheers!

Super hit Date Cake

Recipe is from Aayi's recipes with some minor modifications

Ingredients:

20-24 dates, seeds removed (I used a little more than the original recipe and reduced the sugar)

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup milk

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda (don't substitute with baking pwdr)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup walnuts

Steps:

1. Place dates in a bowl with the milk and heat in microwave for about 1 1/2 mins. This is to soften the dates for easier blending. 

2. Pour the dates and milk into a blender and add the sugar. Blend into a fine paste. 

3. Take a large mixing bowl, add the date paste and add oil and mix well.

4. On a piece of newspaper, sift the all purpose flour with the baking soda. Add this flour to the mixing bowl a few spoons at a time and mix to incorporate. 

5. Add nuts and mix all together.

6. Grease a round cake pan with butter and pour the mixture in. (I've seen it made in a loaf pan or any other baking pan)

7. Preheat oven to 350F and cook cake for 30 mins. I tested at 30 mins by inserting a knife in the center, and found it was done, even though the recipe calls for more baking time. 

Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.