Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Olive Oil Cake

01 | 10 | 2015
By Soni Sinha

Life is all about enjoying simple pleasures.

Like this simple cake..

I started making this cake as I was craving for something sweet.But little did I expect that my kids would be raving and going for seconds since it’s a tad different from the cakes that they’re used to.This cake uses Olive Oil instead of butter and going by the response in our family it certainly looks like a new favorite!

Olive Oil Cake

Olive Oil Cake is a easy dessert that uses ingredients you have on hand..I first thought this cake would have a strong Olive oil flavor but it has just a slight hint of the Olive Oil along with the vanilla and tastes delicious.Its perfectly moist and fluffy.I’ve kept it simple although you can make different variations using lemon or orange.I followed this recipe except for the orange juice and zest since I didn’t have any at hand and it still turned out perfect!A little sprinkling of powdered sugar is all you need to dress it up.

Olive Oil Cake 1

Enjoy it as a light snack or dessert with your cuppa!As for me I’ve just made a bigger batch since my kids wanted it for their school snack too.Happy Mom 🙂

Olive Oil Cake

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Ingredients
  

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease and flour a 9-inch square cake pan. Mix together the sugar and eggs in a medium bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed until blended and light.
  • Drizzle in the olive oil and vanilla and mix until light and smooth.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in another bowl.
  • Add the flour mixture half at a time to the wet ingredients and mix on low just to bring it together.
  • Pour into the prepared cake pan and bake, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Let the cake cool 15 minutes, dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Mint

22 | 08 | 2015
By Soni Sinha

We’re all constantly on the look out for easy crowd pleasing recipes.I’ve always believed that appetizers are the star of a party.Don’t we all just love to nibble on them while sipping our favorite drink and enjoying a conversation? I like a good spread of appetizers when I entertain and love experimenting with different flavors for my next party.The recipe I have for you today came about as a result of some mint waiting to be used and I saw the perfect opportunity to use them when I spotted a jar of roasted red peppers sitting forlornly in my pantry.A dip combining the two sounded very appetizing and I was on my task.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Mint 3

Dips are always popular and can be whipped-up in no time even if you have unexpected guests.They taste delicious and can be quite addictive.You can get creative by adding nuts, cream cheese or mayonnaise, spices etc to flavor your dips and it’s always a hit with kids and adults.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Mint

This dip has a vibrant red color and a slight kick from the cayenne.I’ve used walnuts for some body and texture and of course the mint flavors it to perfection.The result is a smoky,peppery, nutty dip just waiting to be devoured.Serve it with crudités, pita or any chips of your choice.Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Mint

Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Mint

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Ingredients
  

  • 7 ounce jar of Roasted Red Pepper-Drained and diced
  • 1 Garlic
  • Ground Cumin-1/2 tsp
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • Mint-1/4 cup
  • Extra virgin olive oil-1 tbsp
  • Cayenne pepper- 1/4 tsp
  • Salt

Instructions
 

  • In a pan toast the walnuts on medium heat until slightly golden and aromatic.
  • In a food processor add all the ingredients and blend until smooth.
  • Serve with your favorite chips.

Hearty Ratatouille with Goat’s Cheese #WeekdaySupper #Giveaway

11 | 05 | 2015
By Soni Sinha

Its hard for me to walk past a cookbook in a book store without stopping to take a look while flipping through the pages.And if I happen to like it, then it gets added to my already expanding collection in my kitchen.How can you not be mesmerized by the tantalising recipes and stories in each cookbook and the knowledge you derive about your favorite cuisine.Right from the tools required to make the dishes,to the handy tips that’s always welcome while trying out the recipes, its always a great joy to own a cookbook and try recipes from it.I’m excited today to be reviewing Molly Gilbert’s cookbook Sheet Pan Suppers!Family recipes that you can bake in a Sheetpan?Who wouldn’t want that!!Less dishes to wash and and less mess.Its a godsend for anyone with a busy lifestyle and I’m in love with the book.

Hearty Ratatouille

Sheet Pan Suppers has 120 easy and delicious recipes right from mouth watering appetizers like Baked Feta and Chunky Mango Chutney (a must try) to elegant entree dishes like Salmon with Roasted Cucumber and Dilled Yoghurt sauce to a Serve-Withs section that even has a Spring Rice Pilaf (in a sheet pan!) and desserts like Fresh Brioche Cinnamon Roll!

Drooling yet?

Molly is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, a fellow food blogger at Dunk & Crumble PLUS a recipe tester in the kitchen of Saveur.Her cookbook has something for everyone and I love her handy tips and hints that’s super helpful.The recipes are fresh and make use of ingredients in a very creative way that makes for some very elegant dishes.Its what I love the most about this book.

Hearty Ratatouille 5

The recipe that caught my eye as I was flipping the pages is a classic that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time.Its a Hearty Ratatouille with Goat’s Cheese and I absolutely loved how stunning it looked and how equally delicious it tasted!A healthy dish with colorful vegetables that’s so super easy and the addition of simple herbs like thyme and basil just works beautifully.The vegetables are perfectly soft and and you can taste the lovely tomato sauce underneath in every scoop.The goat’s cheese gives it that smooth richness that somehow rounds up the overall balance of flavors along with the vegetables and even my kids (7 and 11) loved it and went for seconds!They even helped layer the veggies with so much enthusiasm :). Its a new family favorite.I served it with some toasted French Baguette and it was one winner dinner!

Hearty Ratatouille

Hearty Ratatouille with Goat’s Cheese #WeekdaySupper #Giveaway

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Ingredients
  

  • Olive Oil Cooking Spray
  • 1 can 12 ounces tomato puree
  • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter cut into small cubes
  • 1 large red bell pepper
  • 1 large Chinese Eggplant or other long skinny eggplant
  • 1 large zucchini
  • 1 large yellow squash
  • 3-4 smallish yukon gold potatoes unpeeled
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
  • 4 ounces soft goat's cheese
  • 1 tbsp roughy chopped basil leaves
  • Crusty Bread for serving

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with one rack about 4 inches from the broiler and one rack in the center.
  • Mist a sheet pan with cooking spray
  • Dump the tomato puree onto the prepared sheet pan.Add the garlic, onion, salt and pepper.Use a rubber spatula to spred evenly.Drop the butter cubes all over.
  • Cut the top off the pepper, pull out the seeds.Take a sharp knife and slice into 1/8-1/4 of an inch rounds and slice the rounds into thirds.
  • Trim the ends of the eggplant, zucchini and squash.Slice each into 1/8-1/4 inch.
  • Slice the potatoes the same size too.
  • Carefully arrange the vegetables over the tomato base overlapping them in a pattern going from oe short end to the other.
  • Drizzle the veggies with olive oil.Sprinkle with thyme and some salt and pepper.
  • Bake the ratatouille on the center rack until the vegetables are tender and the tomato sauce is bubbling up the edges, 30-40 mins
  • Remove the pan from the oven and turn the oven to broil.
  • Break the goats cheese into large crumbles and scatter evenly over the ratatouille.Broil to gently melt the cheese about 1 min.
  • Sprinkle the chopped basil and serve warm with crusty bread.

The Giveaway!

All you have to do is leave a comment and let me know your favorite food to cook on a sheet pan. Entries will be assigned a number and the winner selected using Random.org. The winner will be notified by email. If the winner does not respond in 48 hours an alternate winner will be selected. Contest ends on Wednesday, May 16, 2015 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. Contest is only for United States residents, with a US shipping address, and over the age of 18. There are several more chances to win the cookbook on other Weekday Supper posts (see list below). Entrants can only win one cookbook via this Weekday Supper campaign.

This Giveaway is now closed.

MORE FABULOUS SHEET PAN SUPPER RECIPES:

WEEKDAYbadge-150x150

 

Molly Gilbert’s Social Media Sites:

Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – Pinterest

Please check out the Sheet Pan Suppers Pinterest Board for more scrumptious sheet pan inspiration. And don’t forget to order your own copy of Sheet Pan Suppers. You’ll love it!

Would you like to learn a little more about Molly Gilbert? Check out this interview on the Sunday Supper website.

Disclaimer-This post is sponsored by Workman Publishing Company in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

Baby Arugula,Beet and Gorgonzola Salad with Balsamic Dressing

04 | 02 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

After all the snacking during Superbowl I guess its time to eat some lighter foods like this Salad that is packed with vitamins and nutrients.I like to serve this with my Burger Patties like this or this for a light lunch or dinner.You could also use Apple or Pear instead of Beets for this recipe.I like the addition of a sweet fruit into my salads and its a good way to encourage our kids to try some too.

Baby Arugula,Beet and Gorgonzola Salad

The salad has the sweet,salty,tangy going on with the balsamic dressing and it just elevates the overall flavor pattern.The vibrant colors,the smooth and crunchy texture, its one of my favorites.I’ve used Gorgonzola here but you could also use Goat’s Cheese if you prefer.So go ahead and try it.You’ll be glad you did!

Balsamic Dressing

 

Baby Arugula,Beet and Gorgonzola Salad

Baby Arugula,Beet and Gorgonzola Salad with Balsamic Dressing

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Ingredients
  

  • Baby Arugula-2 cups
  • Steamed Beets-3 sliced into rounds
  • Gorgonzola cheese-crumbled

Balsamic dressing (Emeril Lagasse's recipe)

  • Good quality Balsamic Vinegar-1/4 cup
  • Chopped Garlic-1 tbsp
  • Freshly Ground Black Pepper-1/2 tsp
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil-3/4 cup
  • Salt-1/2 tsp

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients for the balsamic dressing in a screw-top jar and shake to combine.Taste and adjust the seasonings.
  • Arrange the salad on a platter and drizzle some of the dressing all over.Serve immediately. Refrigerate the remaining and use it as required.

 

 

 

 

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat’s Cheese

06 | 11 | 2013
By Soni Sinha

You know when you’re out for your groceries and you tend to pick up a few items just randomly.Well I did just that .In fact I do just that all the time.

You do too?

That makes me feel so much better.

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat's Cheese 1.jpg

And imagine your excitement, when you incorporate all those items in your dish and it turns out to be a success!

Well, I had my AHA moment over the weekend in my kitchen trying to use three ingredients that I bought,namely some Sweet Potatoes,Kale and Goat’s Cheese.

Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat's Cheese 3

I’d initially planned on making some Sweet Potato fries,but then,I also had to use the other two ingredients in some way.I found the perfect solution in the way of these bites, where in I could incorporate all three and besides,who could resist such a healthy starter?

I peeled up my Sweet Potatoes and sliced them at an angle.That’s probably the only tricky part in this recipe and if you’re not very comfortable using your knife just slice it normally in rounds or long slices.Once they’re sliced all you do is coat them with the spices and bake them in the oven.

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat's Cheese 2.jpg

Its that easy.

The Kale is then sautéed along with some garlic and olive oil and makes the perfect topping for these bites.A layer of Goat’s cheese goes next and I’ve used Chevre with Honey that gives a perfect sweet balance to the dish.The Cumin and Cayenne add that spicy heat element to my Sweet Potatoes that I love.The Kale is a nice contrast texture, color and flavor-wise and also makes this appetizer super healthy.Its bursting with flavor and I couldn’t stop eating them once they were ready!So so good!You have to try it to believe.

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat's Cheese.jpg

 

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat's Cheese

Spiced Sweet Potato Bites with Kale and Goat’s Cheese

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Ingredients
  

  • Chevre with Honey-1/4 log
  • Sweet Potatoes-3 sliced at an angle
  • Ground Cumin-2 tbsp
  • Cayenne or Red chili Powder-1/2 tsp
  • Salt- to taste
  • Olive Oil-2 tbsp

For the Kale

  • Fresh Kale leaves chopped-3 cups
  • Crushed Garlic- 1 clove
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil-1 tbsp
  • Salt- to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Mix all the spices and coat the sliced Sweet Potatoes on both sides.
  • On a foil lined oiled baking sheet, arrange the Sweet Potatoes in a single layer.Drizzle Olive Oil all over on both sides.
  • Bake for about 20-25 minutes until you see them turning slightly golden.
  • Turn off the oven.Arrange them in a tray using tongs.
  • Meanwhile in a pan heat the olive oil.Add the crushed garlic followed by Kale.Add a little salt and cook just until they've wilted just a little.
  • Empty in a bowl and keep aside.

To assemble

  • Top about a tbsp of Kale on top of each Sweet Potato bite followed by some roughly crumbled Goat's Cheese.Enjoy!