Food has been a fool-proof way of showing love through centuries. And in these tough times, nothing means more than showering your loved ones with affection and care. Get ready to whip up a delicious healthy cake for the main woman in your life and pamper her with a whole wheat pizza.
Eggless Whole Wheat Jaggery Cake
Estimated time: 40 minutes
Made with basic ingredients, this Whole Wheat Jaggery Cake is eggless and free of refined sugar. It is lightly sweetened and is perfect to please your mum. Whole Wheat Jaggery Cake – a simple tea time cake made with atta (whole wheat), crunchy nuts and jaggery. Slightly flavoured with cinnamon, this cake is lightly sweetened and is great for snacking or breakfast.
Your mom can savour this for a few days!
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 350 F degrees. Spray a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray and set aside.
1- Sift the jaggery powder first, this will ensure all larger particles are removed and you have a smooth powdered jaggery for the cake batter. Set it aside.
2- In another bowl, sift together atta (whole wheat flour), baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon powder and pinch of salt. Set aside.
3- To your stand mixer (or use a hand mixer), now add oil, yogurt (whisk it before), jaggery powder and vanilla extract.
4- Now, using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer or using your hand mixer, beat until everything is well combined.
5- Add half of the flour mixture and mix.
6- Then add the milk and mix, followed by adding the remaining half of the flour. You may add an additional tablespoon of milk here if the batter looks too thick.
7- Fold in the chopped walnuts using a spatula.
8- Transfer batter to the prepared pan. Bake at 350 F degrees for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Whole-Wheat Pizza
Make way for apizza this mother’s day! Prepare it with a healthy twist in the recipe using whole wheat dough, simply-seasoned sauce, and loads of fresh toppings.
Here are some toppings that you could offer your mom to let her customise her pizza: broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, red onion slices, black olives, pineapple, sweet corn, chicken salami and sausages, pepperoni, paneer, fresh basil/mint leaves and even macaroni. Shredded Mozzarella & grated Parmesan are a must.
Pizza, with a party-food reputation, can still provide a lot of good nutrition. This healthy version of pizza is made with 100% whole grains, lycopene-rich tomato sauce that has more of this powerful antioxidant than fresh tomatoes. It’s topped with protein-rich whole cheeses and loaded with vitamin and minerals rich fresh veggies. All together, homemade pizza is a balanced meal!
Ingredients for the dough
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons active yeast
• 1 ¼ cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 tablespoon wheat gluten optional, but recommended
Ingredients for the sauce
• 4 cups of Tomato puree
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 clove garlic, grated or a pinch of garlic powder & salt
Toppings
• Cheese: shredded Mozzarella, grated Parmesan
• Toppings: bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, sweet corn, pepperoni, chicken and paneer
Method:
In a small bowl, whisk together warm water and yeast, and set aside. The mixture should start to foam after a few minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and gluten if using. Stir well, then add the water/yeast mixture, olive oil and honey. Stir until a ball forms.
Use your hands to knead the dough for several minutes. (If the dough is too wet, you can add a couple of tablespoons of extra flour so it’s easier to handle. But keep in mind that a dry dough won’t get as stretchy and light as a wetter dough.)
Form the dough into a loose ball, drizzle a little olive oil on top, and cover the bowl with a clean dish towel. Let the dough rise for 1-2 hours.
When the first rise is finished, punch down the dough (deflate it with your fists) and cut the ball in half. Roll each piece of dough into a new ball, place them in separate bowls, and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 F and prepare your toppings. Mix the sauce ingredients together and set aside, chop any veggies you plan to add, and grate your cheese into piles.
Sprinkle a few tablespoons of whole wheat flour on a clean counter top, then flatten one of the dough balls onto it. Use a rolling pin (a glass bottle works in a pinch) to gently roll the dough into a circle (if you’re using a pizza stone) or an oval (if you’re using a baking sheet.) Use your fingers to shape the edges into a slight crust. You can also lift up the dough by the crusts and gently turn it to help the dough stretch evenly.
Once the dough is shaped into a crust, place it on the stone or baking sheet.
Rub about 2 teaspoons of olive oil onto the surface of the crust, then add your desired toppings.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is brown, and cheese is bubbling.
Slice and serve hot!
Go ahead and surprise them with these healthy dishes to let her know you love her. Happy mother’s day!