Baked Strawberry Dessert Pudding

Strawberry Pudding has been a favorite since ages and eons, and as these berries are easily available almost all year round, there's no restraint on indulging in a sweet dessert pudding whenever you fancy to have one! Puddings can be of various types, creamy, gooey, gelatinous or cake-like, and as the last one is one of my favorites, I chose a baked pudding that's softer than a cake, yet light in texture. The inspiration came from a craving for a traditional Strawberry Shortcake, but I didn't have the ingredients nor the patience to make one. So, the easiest way to create a satisfying substitute was to use the same flavors, and bake a pudding! With strawberry puree, fresh sliced strawberries a hint of lemon and brown sugar, and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce, this Baked Strawberry Pudding is a perfect dessert for those sudden sweet-tooth cravings.

Ingredients
8-20 large fresh strawberries
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg - separated
**add one more egg for a souffle-like pudding

For Garnish
more strawberry slices
sprig of mint
whipped cream
chocolate sauce

Method
Take the strawberries, leaving 2 aside, chop them and make a strawberry puree by slowly heating them with the cane sugar and lemon juice, until they are soft, and almost macerated(pulp). Strain the puree through a fine sieve to remove the seeds and excess pulp; then keep aside.

Slice the remaining 2 berries into thin slices, 4 slices per berry.

Butter 4 small ramekins and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350F.

Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until combined. Sift in the flour. Stir in the milk, egg yolk and 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree till combined.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff. Fold in gently into the batter.

Place the 4 strawberry slices on the sides of the buttered ramekins. Then pour the batter, filling them upto 2/3 height, leaving some room to allow the pudding to expand. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the top is light golden brown, and the pudding separates from the sides.

Allow the ramekins to cool down. Gently invert each ramekin over a dessert plate. Top with some whipped cream and strawberry slices. Drizzle with the remaining strawberry syrup and chocolate sauce. Its like a strawberry shortcake in itself!

Garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve your delicious Baked Strawberry Pudding for a light and airy yet comforting dessert!

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Raspberry Coconut Breakfast Cake

Summer is the season for fresh Berries, and what better way to get the antioxidants into your system than by beginning your weekend with a slice of this delicious Raspberry Coconut Breakfast Cake! Actually, I was tempted by seeing the IHOP commercials about the Strawberry Festival that's going on, but it looked like way too many calories to indulge in. So to satisfy my sweet tooth, I thought of baking something that's not too unhealthy, and can pacify my cravings too. Thus was born this Raspberry Breakfast Cake - baked with fresh raspberries, almonds, coconut, a bit of vanilla, and coconut milk, it is a perfect way to enjoy a summer morning with a cup of hot coffee, as you plan how to spend the weekend with your family. Off this goes to Meeta's Mingle, celebrating Spring Cakes this season.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-3/4 cup sugar
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
3/4 cup chopped or whole raspberries

Method
Lightly coat a 10-11 inch round cake pan or a regular Loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl. Set aside. Mix the coconut flakes with the coconut milk and vanilla essence, whisk and set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar over medium speed until well combined. With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add the eggs, one at a time, until completely incorporated. You can even do this by hand, making sure you beat well after addition of each egg, so the mixture becomes light and fluffy.

Now add the coconut milk mixture, followed by the flour mixture, beating slowly after each addition so that the batter becomes white and fluffy. Finally fold in the raspberries and slivered almonds.

Pour the batter evenly in the prepared cake pan, and Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until the center springs back when lightly pressed. Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely, before attempting to slice the cake.

Serve a wedge with coffee for breakfast. For a more indulgent dessert, cover the cake with white buttercream frosting and garnish with more fresh raspberries.

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Mixed Berry Pavlova Dessert- Meringue Cake

"Pavlova", a famous Australian dessert, is basically a meringue cake with a light, delicate, crisp crust and a soft & sweet marshmallow center that is produced by folding a little vinegar and cornstarch into stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar. This dessert is then served with whipped cream and some fresh fruits. Named after the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, this dessert is as beautiful as the ballerina herself. Light and airy, this Meringue Cake is a wonderful way to make use of seasonal or frozen fruits and a bundle of eggs that no baking recipe will be able to utilize! Inspired by a recipe I had seen some time back, and determined to master the meringue-making process, I set forth last weekend to bake this beautiful Mixed Berry Pavlova. It wasn't all child's play, but at the end, I knew I had baked something I could be proud of!

Pavlova is a meringue, and it is important when making any meringue that the egg whites reach maximum volume, so make sure your mixing bowl and whisk are clean and free of grease. Since we need just the whites of the eggs, the eggs will need to be separated. It is easier to do this while the eggs are still cold; I generally use the EggCracker for this and it works pretty well. Once separated, cover the egg whites and let them come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).

I have to say that Deb's first-hand instructions about baking the meringue helped me overcome my initial disaster; also, it is definitely advisable to follow the temperature and size suggestions in the recipe, as baking times would vary quite a bit depending on the size of the cakes, making it hard to get the "perfect" texture, which essentially means firm and light on the outside, soft and marshmallowy on the inside!

Ingredients
Adapted from Joy of Baking's Pavlova recipe

Meringue Cake
4 large egg whites
1/2 tspn salt
1 cup superfine castor sugar
1 tspn white vinegar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tbsp cornstarch (or cornflour, or arrowroot powder)

Berries and Whip Cream Topping
1/2 cup strawberry or raspberry sauce
1 cup frozen mixed berries (thawed)
1/4 cup regular Whip Cream

Method
Preheat oven to 250°F (130°C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 7 inch (18 cm) circle on the paper. (I ust used an icecream bowl to mark the rounds)

Pour the vanilla and vinegar into a small cup. Stir the cornstarch into the sugar in a small bowl.

In a large bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites and salt, starting on low, increasing incrementally to medium speed until soft peaks start to become visible, and the egg white bubbles are very small and uniform, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Increase speed to medium-high, slowly and gradually sprinkling in the sugar-cornstarch mixture. A few minutes after these dry ingredients are added, slowly pour in the vanilla and vinegar. Increase speed a bit and whip until meringue is glossy, and stiff peaks form when the whisk is lifted, 4 to 5 minutes.

Gently spread the meringue inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper, smoothing the edges, making sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher than the center. (You want a slight well in the center of the meringue to place the whipped cream and fruit.)

Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until the outside is dry and takes on a very pale cream color. Check on meringues at least once during the baking time. If they appear to be taking on color or cracking, reduce temperature 25 degrees, and turn pan around. Turn the oven off, leave the door slightly ajar, and let the meringue cool completely in the oven. (The outside of the meringue will feel firm to the touch, if gently pressed, but as it cools you will get a little cracking and you will see that the inside is soft and marshmallowy.)

Assembling the Pavlova
Just before serving, gently place the meringue-cakes onto a serving plate. Whip the cream in your until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the sugar and vanilla and then mound the softly whipped cream into the center of the meringue. Arrange the thawed mixed berries on the top, then drizzle some raspberry sauce over it. Serve immediately as this dessert does not hold for more than a few hours.

This Mixed Berry Pavlova is a delicious yet light dessert to cater to your sweet tooth. Try with other fruit toppings, or even nuts, but this traditional version definitely works the best! This was a learning experience for me indeed, and if you are a first-timer too, try my Meringue Recipe Tips to make this a bit easier for you!

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Cranberry Orange Bread with Pecans

Cranberry Bread, flavored with zesty Orange and filled with the goodness of Pecans and crushed almonds, and topped with a layer of butter or maple syrup, served with a cup of hot tea or coffee! Does it sound like a scintillating breakfast or not? I, for one, would never refuse a platter like this, and neither should you! Cranberries are a wonderful summer fruit, and when paired with citrusy orange, it invokes a lovely flavor and aroma that is sweet and invigorating. I love walnuts, and pretty much throw them in any recipe that can do with nuts, but this time, I chose to go with Pecans, as something told me they would be great with the cranberries, and I was not disappointed at all! A lover of almonds, I dumped some slivered almonds too into the batter, and the result was a wonderfully soft bread that is pretty enough to be served at feast, and tasty enough to be cherished with family. This moist Cranberry Orange Bread is an out-and-out winner indeed, sure to serve as a fitting start to your day!

I was really happy with the way this beautiful bread turned out. It was truly a treat with my morning tea. Off this goes to Sia's WBB-Summer Feasts and also to Susan who's hosting SHF-Berries this month!

Ingredients
Makes one 9x5x3 inch loaf

1/2 cup pecans - coarsely chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries(sweetened) - coarsely chopped
3 tbsp slivered almonds
2 cups whole-grain pastry flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp orange zest
4 tbsp cold unsalted butter - cut into cubes
1 large egg well beaten
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Eggless Recipe
** substitute 1/4 cup sour cream instead of the egg in the recipe

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Grease a loaf pan with non-stick vegetable spray and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the beaten egg with the orange juice and vanilla extract. For the eggless version, replace the egg with 1/4 cup sour cream and beat it with the orange juice and vanilla.

In a large dry bowl, whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend it into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the chopped cranberries, almonds and pecans.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then remove the bread from the pan and let cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy this delicious Cranberry-Orange Bread with your breakfast, or as a dessert with some more fruits and whipped cream!

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Apricot-Ginger-Cranberry Muffins

Apricot and Ginger are great flavors when paired together, and you'll vouch for it yourself once you try these delicious Apricot Ginger Muffins; its like capturing the essence of summer in a muffin! Made with fresh apricots and melted butter, these muffins are very soft and moist. The shredded ginger adds the perfect amount of spice, filling your kitchen with a refreshing aroma. I decided to add a handful of craisins, because it made my muffins look prettier and taste better! A simple blend of fresh ingredients baked together, these amazingly moist and flavorful Apricot & Ginger Muffins have become one of my favorite recipes!

These are perfect breakfast muffins, and have become my preferred choice, with a cup of Ginger-Cardamom tea, so try it for yourself and see! Off these go to Aparna who's hosting BBD#12 featuring "Small Quick Breads" this time!

Ingredients
Makes 12 muffins

1-3/4 cups self-raising flour
*** use 1 cup AP and 3/4 cup wheat flour for a healthier version
3/4 cup fresh apricots - diced
*** or use one 8.5-ounce can sweetened apricot chunks - drained
1 egg
*** substitute 1/4 cup vanilla or plain yogurt for an eggless version
1 cup castor sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp ground ginger
4 tbsp dried cranberries or craisins
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp baking powder

Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and prepare muffins pans by greasing with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and ginger.

Combine egg, milk, melted butter and chopped apricots in another bowl. beat a little to combine everything together. Now add this to the dry mixture just until combined. Do not over-beat. Fold in the cranberries and stir.

Spoon the mixture into the moulds and bake for 20 minutes, until the tops rise and become golden.

Let the muffins cool in the rack for 10 mins. Then gently remove then from the moulds and transfer to a wire rack to further cool for another 5-7 mins.

Serve the deliciously soft muffins with a cup of tea. The sweet apricots are balanced by the semi-sweet cranberries, and the mild taste of ginger gives them a lovely flavor. The ginger flavor will be stronger one day later, which I really liked! The melted butter gives these Apricot Ginger Muffins a soft and rich texture that's hard to ignore!

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Vanilla Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberries is a refreshingly light yet extremely popular Italian dessert. Literally translated as "cooked cream", this is a rich and creamy custard, topped with berries, caramel or chocolate sauce. When I heard about it for the first time, I was skeptical; pepper and vinegar in a dessert?! doesn't sound very inviting. But I courageously tasted it at a cafe once, and I have to tell you that I was impressed! The sweet and creamy pudding was rich and delicious, and the balsamic strawberry dressing indeed added an element of spice; with just a tiny hint of black pepper, it beautifully compliments the sweetness of the custard. Playing around with flavors, I tweaked the classic traditional recipe with some interesting additions to give you my version of the divine dessert - Panna Cotta with Strawberry Coulis!

I took inspiration from Chef Mario Batali's Panna Cotta with Strawberries recipe, but modified the strawberry sauce considerably by adding orange zest and mint, and reducing the amount of black pepper and balsamic vinegar. I also added some cardamom powder to my Panna Cotta, and used greek-style yogurt instead of plain whole-milk. Overall, this recipe is a sure-shot winner, and definitely makes for a sophisticated yet easy dessert for dinner parties! And it looks extremely pretty too! This strawberry dessert is on its way to Cooksister's WTSIM-Berries event! check out some cool recipe variations at the end of this post!

Ingredients

Panna Cotta
2 tbsp water
1 1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin
2 cups whipping cream
1 1/4 cup greek style yogurt (or whole-milk)
1 tspn vanilla extract
1/2 tspn cardamom powder
1/2 cup sugar

Strawberry Sauce
10-12 medium strawberries - hulled & sliced
2 tbsp sugar
3-4 mint leaves
1/4 tsp orange zest
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)
1/4 tspn finely ground black pepper (optional)

Method

Vanilla Panna Cotta
Pour 2 tbsp warm water into a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over water. Let it stand until softened, about 15 minutes.

Whisk 1 cup cream, yogurt/milk, and vanilla and cardamom in large bowl to blend.

Heat the remaining 1 cup cream and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and cream comes to simmer. Remove from heat and set aside. Add the gelatin mixture to the cream, stirring continuously to dissolve the gelatin.

Now mix the hot cream & gelatin mixture into the yogurt mixture in bowl. Divide the mixture among six ramekins or moulds, using about 1/2 cup for each. Refrigerate desserts uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate overnight.

Dressing the Strawberries
Toss the strawberries, vinegar, sugar, orange zest, mint leaves and pepper in large bowl to combine. Let stand 30 minutes, tossing occasionally, to allow the fruit to macerate and soak the flavors. Adjust sugar according to your taste if needed, then cover it with cling wrap and keep it refrigerated until serving time.

When ready to serve, unmould the panna-cotta by inverting on a dessert plate. Remove the mint leaves from the strawberry sauce. Gently layer the custard with the sauce and garnish with a fresh sprig of mint if needed.

Variations: You can also puree the strawberries and add it to the panna cotta mixture to make Strawberry Panna Cotta. Add a hint of orange zest to the cream mixture instead of cardamom. Or use some other essence like almond or saffron. Feel free to experiment with your choice of flavors or fruits for the topping.

Panna Cotta & Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar is a popular dessert at many restaurants. It serves to be a light yet elegant and easy dessert at several occasions. The dressing in the strawberries compliments the sweetness of the pudding, at the same time giving it a unique sweet and spicy taste that lingers long after you have finished your dessert!

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Cherry & Almond Sour Cream Scones

Cherries, the small and sweet dark red fruits that are full of flavor and fiber are found in plenty in summer. I paired my fresh Cherries with the ever classic Almonds and sour cream to bake these delicious Cherry-Almond Scones. Packed with anti-oxidants and beta-carotene, Cherries are aptly called the "latest super-fruits"! These breakfast scones taste heavenly right out of the oven, and serve to be a perfect weekend brunch with hot tea! Combined with whole-grain flour, sour cream and a pinch of nutmeg, my Cherry Almond Scones were the best way to enjoy the fresh fruits; however, you could easily make these with dried cherries as well. If you enjoy cherries, its hard to resist these scones!

Ingredients
3/4 cup fresh or dried sweet cherries - pitted and chopped
** If you use dried cherries, soak them in warm water for an hour to plump them up
2 cups whole-grain pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cold butter - cut into chunks
1 cup sour cream
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
a pinch of nutmeg (optional, for aroma)
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Method
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

With a pastry knife, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it is granular in appearance, like sand, just more grainier.

Mix the sour cream, egg, nutmeg and almond extract together in a small bowl. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the liquid mixture.

Fold in the slivered almonds and cherries, leaving a few for garnish. Stir with a spatula just until moistened. (Note: DO not mix a lot else the cherries will leave out juice and color the entire dough)

Dust the countertop with all-purpose flour and turn the dough out. Pat the dough into a disk about 12 inches in diameter. Cut the disk into small discs or wedges, whatever shape you like.

Place them on an ungreased baking sheet with room around them to expand. (Note: Do not use grease as that can turn your scones more brown in color!) You can use a parchment paper if you want.

Top each scone with split cherries and pinch them slightly in the dough. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until they are lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack till they cool down.

Variations: Try these with golden raisins or dried currants, and use shredded coconut instead of almonds.

These scones taste wonderful straight out of the oven; the tartness of cherries is wonderfully paired with alomnds, and sour cream imparts a smooth rich texture. Top them with some butter or jam, kids would love a topping of whipped cream too! I simply enjoyed my Cherry-Almond Scones with a cup of hot tea for my breakfast!

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Low-Fat Strawberry Vanilla Cake

There's a story behind this delicious Low-fat Strawberry Cake! What happens when I have an urge to eat a cake but my weighing scale glares right back at me, reminding me of the zealous workout at the gym this morning which merely burned 300 calories?? I try to talk myself out of the urge, but the chef inside my head feels otherwise, and a new low-fat strawberry vanilla cake is born!! Generally, there's more to it than just this; a battle between my wits and desires often forces me to simply evade eating any desserts, but with my pantry loaded with fresh hand-picked strawberries that we got back from our strawberry-picking weekend, I somehow convinced myself to see that strawberries are really good for health, and so are baked goods! So it wouldn't be a sin to try a hand at this souffle-like vanilla cake that has strawberries in every bite, which is way more filling and delicious than a simple strawberry smoothie:). Flavored with a hint of cardamom & vanilla, and with half the calories than a regular cake, this strawberry dessert recipe is an out-and-out winner!

This recipe is totally an original one that I came up with to suffice my craving for a low-calorie, low-fat dessert. Hence I have substituted some key high-carb ingredients like all-purpose flour, butter and egg-yolk with healthier options like whole-grain and whole-wheat flour, low-fat, low-cholesterol olive oil and egg-white only, which has 40 different proteins and water, and minimal fat content. Also, I used only 1 cup brown sugar, which makes this a little less sweet cake, but combined with the strawberries, it is still rich and sweet enough, and considerably reduced in saturated fats and calories than its original counterpart. I was pleased that even without egg-yolks, the cake came out soft and spongy. So this is definitely a recipe I'm going to hold on to and splurge in with fruit variations for my diet-desserts! Off this goes to Equal Opportunity Kitchen for the Tried,Tested & True event, where they are asking for healthy and delicious recipes!

Ingredients
Make one 9x9 loaf or 6 mini-cakes

6-8 large strawberries - washed
1 cup whole-grain pastry flour
1 cup wheat flour (use all-purpose flour for a richer cake)
1 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar (divided)
1/2 cup skimmed milk
1 tspn baking powder
1/2 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn cardamom powder
1/2 tspn salt
1 large egg (whites only)
3 tbsp olive oil (or smart-balance light spread)
2 tspn vanilla extract
strawberries - sliced for garnish

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9" x 9" baking pan or 6 medium ramekins with cooking spray.

Slice the strawberries vertically to form thick slices(about 4-5 per berry). Reserve 6 slices for garnish, and sprinkle 2 tbsp brown sugar on the remaining ones. Toss in a bowl gingerly to evenly coat with the sugar. If your strawberries are really sweet, you can omit the sugar at this step.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, and salt.

In another medium bowl, whisk the sugar, egg-white, and oil until smooth. Beat well to make it fluffy and airy, about 1 min. This step is important as this will determine how much your cake rises. As we are using only one egg-white, beating it adequately is required for a spongier cake. Whisk in the milk and the vanilla essence to this.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry flour mixture and stir just until blended.

Now arrange 3 sugared strawberry slices on the base of the ramekins. Scrape into the prepared pan or the ramekins. Pour the batter over it, then again layer with another 3 strawberries and finish with the batter on the top, taking care not to fill more than 3/4th of each ramekin, allowing room to expand. If you are using a cake pan, just layer all the strawberry slices below then top with the batter.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes (about 25 mins if you are using the ramekins), until the cake is springy to touch, shrinks from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

By using whole-grain wheat and pastry flour, just 1 egg, and olive oil instead of butter, we can cut down significant amount of calories from this dessert, The whole-grains make it a filling treat, and the combined recipe makes it a low-fat cake which provides only the good carbs and fats to the body.

Strawberries when baked tend to lose their sweetness a little, hence rolling them in sugar at the beginning is recommended. Plus, the cardamom adds a wonderful aroma and a hint of flavor to the vanilla batter which beautifully compliments the strawberries. Its a great way to enjoy a guilt-free treat any time you want, without compromising on the taste!

For a lavish dessert, top it with some whipped cream, or dust it with some icing sugar. This also makes for beautiful individual desserts when entertaining. I really enjoyed my low-fat version of vanilla strawberry cake, and now have a delicious solution for dessert cravings that do not antagonize my weighing scale!

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Whole Grain Blueberry Pancakes

There's nothing that can keep me away from IHOP and its whole grain and nut pancakes, except an absolutely full stomach! Pancakes serve to be ideal breakfast in many american homes, and if you can make them healthier, there's nothing better! These healthy whole-grain blueberry pancakes were a perfect weekend brunch, and if you feed these to your kids, you won't feel guilty either! Loaded with the goodness of whole-grains, and the antioxidant power of blueberries, these pancakes are the ultimate balance of "tasty & healthy". What more could you ask from food, right?!

Pancakes are never out of fashion. And there are plenty of ways to mix-and-match and customize the basic recipe, which makes it interesting too! They go well with tea, coffee or orange juice, and as far as variety is concerned, the possibilities are endless! I love whole grain pancakes; they have an earthy texture and are very filling indeed. Here, I combined the classic whole-grain pancakes with blueberries and some coconut milk which brings a fresh tartness that nicely balances the sweetness of maple syrup. And they are light, fluffy, healthy and filling, all at the same time! Try experimenting with different berries; adding shredded coconut and some nuts wouldn't be a bad idea either!

Ingredients
Makes about 6 pancakes

3/4 cup white whole-grain (wheat) flour
1/4 cup oat flour (or substitute the oat flour for regular or whole-grain one)
1 tspn baking powder
1/2 tspn baking soda
1/4 tspn salt
1 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen and thawed)
1 cup buttermilk (or milk)
1 large egg - lightly beaten
2 tbsp butter - melted
1 tbsp coconut milk (or plain water)
confectioner's sugar - for dusting

Method
Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter to this.

Stir all the remaining ingredients until they are just combined. Don’t worry if the batter is a bit lumpy, you don't want to over mix. Finally fold in the blueberries.

Heat your skillet, pan, or griddle to medium-hot and brush it with a bit of butter. (If a drop of water dropped onto the pan starts to sizzle, the pan is hot enough). Now pour about 1/3 of a cup of batter into the skillet. Wait until the pancake bottom is deep golden in color (about 30 seconds), then flip with a spatula and cook the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Serve with a dab of butter and maple syrup, or simply dust them with some confectioner's sugar! These whole grain blueberry pancakes are simply delicious! In fact, I could say this is my best pancake recipe ever!

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Low-Fat Cranberry-Walnut Scones (Healthy Breakfast)

It's always great to have a "sweet start" to a day, and as breakfast is the first important meal of the day, having something sweet in the morning balances your caffeine, but it's an added bonus if its a healthy breakfast, like these wonderful Eggless Cranberry-Walnut Breakfast Scones. Low in fat, these semi-sweet scones are packed with the goodness of cranberries and walnuts that make this a healthy sweet treat any time of the day!

This recipe is heavily adapted from Jeanne Lemlin's cookbook Vegetarian Classics. She has a Black-currant Buttermilk Scones recipe which I modified to make these cranberry and walnut scones; I essentially chose to make mine eggless, replaced part of the buttermilk with plain milk and halved the butter content to make these healthy scones. These scones have become a regular breakfast delight in our house because my husband loves the cruncy-chewy and not-so-sweet flavor, at the same time, I can be sure that I am feeding him something healthy and nutritious!

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar (or more if you like them sweeter)
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts - chopped
2 tbsp butter or margarine
1/2-3/4th cup milk

Method
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You can even do this with your fingertips. Stir in the cranberries and walnuts, then slowly add the milk, just until the dough is moistened. Make a tough dough like cookies.

On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough gently, 5 to 10 times. Pat into a 1-inch-thick round. Cut into 8-12 wedges with a buttered knife; place on a baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Sprinkle some more brown sugar if desired. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before trying to remove them.

Serve these healthy low-fat cranberry scones with your morning tea or coffee, or with a dollop of jam any time of the day!

Similar Recipes:
Low-Fat Blueberry Muffins
Cherry & Almond Sour Cream Scones
Healthy Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti
Low-Calorie Pear & Almond Cake

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Mixed Berry and White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and enjoyed it with their friends and family. But the holidays are still on in full swing, and so is the cooking and baking spree. After taking a 3-day well-deserved skiing break, I got back to my oven to make this Mixed Berry and White Chocolate Bread pudding. Lots of desserts and delicacies fall under the "Pudding" umbrella, like gellos, panna cotta, mousse, gooey cakes and more. But the most widely-known form of pudding is the bread pudding. As the name suggests, you make layers of milk or cream-soaked bread and top it with fruits, nuts, chocolate or anything that your heart desires:) freeze it for some hours, then toss it in the oven to make it warm and gooey, and relish it with your favorite toppings. An exquisite dessert that can range from simple to elaborate and classic. There are tonnes of ways to experiment with this, but here's my version full of berries, raisins, chocolate and bread!

I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate, and don't generally use it in my cooking, with white chocolate mocha and white chocolate-macadamia nut cookies being exceptions. Somehow, it feels just right in this pudding recipe. It does help bring out the color and flavor of the mixed berries. But if you want, you can use regular chocolate too.

Ingredients
1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup sugar (or less, if using sweet condensed milk)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup shredded white chocolate (or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
8-9 large slices of thick white bread (not too soft, toast for 1 minute if too soft)
1 cup condensed milk

Method
Spray an 8-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Line the sprayed pan with plastic wrap, pressing it against the edges and allow some of the wrap to overhang on all sides.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the mixed berries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, The salt and lemon will urge them to give up some of their juice, and that's when you know the berries are cooked, about 10 minutes. Add the raisins and continue cooking until all the berries are soft and have well-cooked, forming a sauce. Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Remove the edges of the bread slices. Cut each slice into 4 pieces. Arrange one layer of bread slices, pour 1/2 of the berry sauce over them; add the white chocolate, then repeat with another layer of same ingredients.

Gently pour the milk evenly over the layers so it trickles down. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours.

Remove the pudding and carefully peel off the plastic. Now preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and bake the pudding for about 15-20 mins, just until the pudding is warm in the center and a bit of golden on the top. Remove and cut into huge chunks and serve the Bread Pudding immediately!

Tip: The pudding may be made 2 days in advance and kept refrigerated. This can be served with chocolate sauce, or ice cream or even whipped cream. Just remember that the pudding tastes best when it's warm and gooey.

Similar Recipes:
Banana Bread and Cream Cheese Pudding
Baked Strawberry Dessert Pudding
Vanilla Panna-Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries

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Healthy and Low-Fat Blueberry Muffins (Also with Eggless version)

These low-fat Blueberry Muffins are my current friends in my diet plan. People who do not have to do anything special to maintain their healthy weight and slim figure are eternally BLESSED!!! But not all of us are so lucky, and the moment you eat those few extra calories, they start showing themselves on our body! Does this mean you are not supposed to indulge in culinary delights?? Absolutely not! There was a time when dieticians and nutritionists were the only ones who could tell you what should be a part of your healthy diet, but now, thanks to the power of the web and numerous online weight-loss tutorials, having a healthy weight and a figure or physique that you could be proud of is no longer a dream! Here's one such diet-food dessert or snack recipe that I tried when I was on my weight-loss plan - Blueberry Muffins - adapted from one of Denise Austin's recipes, they are not only tasty and filling, but you wouldn't have to think twice about your weight while relishing these!!

Nutrition Info: These low-fat muffins are high in fiber because of the oats, and help you keep satiated for a longer time. They have roughly 150 calories, no carbs, high protein content and around 3 grams of fat. Blueberries are the best source of antioxidants, and as there is very little sugar involved, you can replace it with artificial sweeteners to make a diabetic version of the recipe. For the Vegan version, use water instead of milk. There, with all these variations, it can easily be used as one of your 5 meals a day, though I'd not recommend eating it everyday!:)

Ingredients
3/4 th cup all-purpose flour
1-1/4th cup quick cooking oats or whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar (or 1 cup honey)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tspn salt
2 egg whites
1/2 cup low-fat milk or water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw them)

Eggless Version: Eggs act as leavening agents and give fluff and texture to baked dishes, so if you use egg substitutes you might have to compromise on the softness a little. However, you can use mashed bananas or mashed silken tofu instead of eggs. Some products like "Ener-G" are available in some markets which are egg replacements and can be used effectively. If the recipe calls for only 1-2 eggs, you can just skip them and use warm whole milk or even Applesauce. Hope this note helps vegans to enjoy this and other such lovely recipes without eggs.

Method
In one bowl, combine the flour, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda and sugar. In another bowl, beat egg whites, milk or water and oil. Whisk for 5-7 mins till soft peaks are seen. Stir into the flour mixture and mix together; do not beat a lot, just until everything is evenly combined (the batter should be lumpy, not too smooth). Fold in the blueberries gently.

Now take the muffin cups and grease them with cooking spray (try not using oil or butter)Fill each cup upto the 3/4th level. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once done. allow to cool completely, then gently remove from the cups and enjoy these delicious low-fat muffins any time of the day.

These healthy low-fat blueberry muffins serve to be perfect breakfast or dessert treats. Hope this recipe helps to satiate the sweet tooth of many a calorie-conscious diet-lovers out there!!

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Strawberry Colada Smoothie

Nutritionists say that its best to include berries in your breakfast, and with all the supporting evidence, they can't be wrong. And though strawberries are delicious by themselves, I'd like to point out that they can taste even better with bananas, coconuts and milk, right?? Strawberries have plenty of antioxidants and vitamins that are very useful to the body. Plus, starting your day with a strawberry smoothie helps detoxify your system in the morning. So here's a healthy and refreshing Strawberry Colada smoothie to kick-start your day with a bang!!

Ingredients
4-5 fresh strawberries-washed and cut into 2 pieces each
3 tbsp grated coconut
2 tbsp milk
2 scoops ice
2 tsp sugar

Method
Add all the above ingredients to a blender and blend to a frothy thick consistency. Serve immediately to refresh your senses. Pour in a tall glass and garnish with a split strawberry on the glass rim!! The strawberry-coconut smoothie is best consumed immediately.

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Peanut Butter-Banana Smoothie
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Chilled Strawberry Cheesecake

We all know how wonderful and healthy berries are, and there's no better way to eat them then in the form of a dessert, right?? And what happens if you combine it with cheese??? Well, you've found the elixir of eternal bliss, because this combination is what led to the invention of cheesecakes, the most-sought-after dessert in decades. But most people stay away from making a cheesecake at home as they feel its too complicated. Here's a simple recipe (adapted from Sify and Food Network) for No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake that is sure to win you loads of compliments.

Ingredients: (For a half pound/1 kg cake)
250 gm strawberries
200 gm glucose biscuits or cooked graham crackers
3 tbsp melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup hung curd
1 cup cream
1 tbsp gelatin
4 tbsp water
6-8 fresh strawberries, chocolate chips,strawberry syrup and whipped cream - for garnishing

Method:
Grind the biscuits and mix in the melted butter with it. Line the base of the serving dish evenly and smoothly with the biscuit mixture. Put in the freezer to set.

Now Puree the strawberries and sugar together in blender. Add the hung curd and cream, blend well to make a smooth mixture. Pour it into a bowl.

Add 4 tbsp of water in the gelatin. Then pour the gelatin slowly into the strawberry mixture. Keep stirring continuously.

Now pour the strawberry mixture onto the set biscuit base. Cover and put in the fridge to set overnight. Garnish with sliced strawberries, chocolate chips and whipped cream.

Serve cold by slicing into triangular pieces. You can also drizzle some strawberry syrup on the top to create a more appetizing effect.

This easy to make chilled no-bake strawberry cheesecake is the simplest solution to dessert recipes when entertaining. It's great as it requires very less effort and can be made ahead of time!

Tip: The gelatin mixture helps set the cake, so don't think of skipping it. You can use substitutes for gelatin, but the latter would provide best results.

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Acai Berry - The healing power coming straight from the Amazon Rainforest

How important it is to include fruits as part of your healthy diet is a well-known fact, and for some time now, a tiny dark purple colored fruit smaller than a grape, is creating a havoc in the health industry. I came across Acai (pronounced as a-sigh-eee) in Jamba Juice and Juice Zone, where the Acai Smoothie caught my eye. What little I learned from the girl who made my smoothie intrigued me enough to find out more about this new player in the market. Let's see what makes Oprah call the Acai Berry as her #1 SuperFood!!!

Acai is very perishable and spoils within about 24 hours of being picked from the Acai Palm tree. So you can't get fresh Acai unless you live in the middle of amazon forest (which I surely hope you don't, b'coz then you wouldn't be reading my blog!) But Acai pulp can be frozen and can also be dehydrated into a powder and freeze dried. This powder can then be put into capsules to make pure Acai supplements that maintain all the nutritional properties of fresh Acai - just in a concentrated form. so what exactly are these nutrients we are talking about??

Antioxidant - The first thing I knew was this tiny seed-like fruit is a powerhouse of rich anti-oxidant vitamins; about 10 times that in red grapes, and 2 times of those in blueberries!!!

Heart-Healthy - Alongwith being sweet and delicious, it also leads to a strong heart. The acai berry is known to be a rich source of compounds called anthocyanins, the word that makes red wine 'healthy', but in much higer concentrations than wine, minus the health risks associated with alcohol.

Lowers Cholesterol- It is also a rich source of protein and dietary fiber, in addition to high levels of both omega-6 and omeaga-9 fatty acids, thought to have a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. The omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids contained in the acai berry may also play a role in lowering levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Wholesome Food - Comparing them to milk, the berries provide four times as much energy, 3 times as many lipids, seven times as many carbohydrates, 118 times more iron, nine times as much Vitamin B1, and eight times as much Vitamin C. They thus help to fight cancer, cardiovascular and ophthalmological diseases, and other age-related degenerative problems, as well as boost brain activity, make the skin healthy and supple, and provide natural energy.

Anti-aging - And now the health secret we've all been waiting for!! In addition to the above important benefits, the acai berry is thought to play a vital role in slowing down the aging process. In health food circles, it is known as one of the most powerful of the anti-aging superfoods, due to the high content of anthocyanins and vitamins. Hurrayyyyyyy for discovering the Fountain of Youth!!!!

But a word of caution before you go hunting for this wonder-fruit. With its growing popularity, a number of companies have started offering the acai berry as a powdered dietary supplement, creating more chances of a fraud or substitution. So it is recommended to check the product and also consult with your doctor or nutritionist before buying it and making it a part of your diet. But once you've done your research, (which you'll need very less after reading this page:)) there's nothing that can stop you from embracing this healthy new member into your family for good!

For more information about the health benefits of Acai Berries, read these:
Acai Roots
Acai-Best Health Product
Acai- Health Report

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