EGGLESS SPONGE CAKE

Of course you need to start with a perfect sponge cake as a base for a perfect cake.And yeah a major problem with most of vegetarian bakers like us is the "egg" (I mean baking a perfect cake without egg :P). So for all the baking lovers here is an easy and perfect egg-less sponge cake recipe.
Just go on with it.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
1 tsp Baking powder
1/4 cup Butter
3/4 cup Powdered sugar
1/3 cup Yogurt
1/4 cup Water
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
1/8 tsp Salt (Just a pinch)

Make sure that ingredients like butter,yogurt and water are at room temperature.

METHOD:

1. Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder ,baking soda in a bowl and keep it  aside.

2. In a large bowl, add butter and powdered sugar. Mix well.
3. Add yogurt. Mix well.

4. In the meantime grease the cake mold with oil/butter and preheat the oven for 10 minutes.
5. Now add the flour mixture (half at a time) to the wet mixture. Mix well. Add the rest of the dry  mixture. Mix it. Now add water and salt to it. Mix it well.
6. Add vanilla essence. Mix the batter well and transfer it to the cake mold.

7. Tap the cake mold 2-3 times to remove any air bubbles for an even baking. Put it in the oven and bake at 180*C for about 25-30 minutes.
8. When done let it cool completely and then decorate it the way you like. Enjoy :)

NOTES:

1.You can add nuts to enrich its taste. But don"t forget to coat them in all purpose flour before adding them to the batter.
2.Baking time and temperature varies according to your oven type.So adjust them according to you oven.
3.Check the cake in-between and also turn the mold sideways for even baking at all sides.

COLD PASTA SALAD

This pasta salad made using beans(rajma) and veggies is very easy to prepare and tastes refreshing. I tried making a healthier version of this by using curd and very little mayonnaise. Try this healthy cold salad to beat off the heat.

INGREDIENTS:- 
2 cups boiled pasta

Pasta,kidney beans,tomatoes,potatoes and curd mixture.

1 cup boiled kidney beans(rajma)
1 cup potatoes, cut into cubes
1 cup tomatoes, cut in cubes
1/4 cup hung curd
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp powdered sugar  
1 tsp oregano (optional)          
1 tbsp chopped coriander  (for garnishing)


METHOD:-
1. In a bowl, add hung curd,mayonnaise,sugar and all the spices and mix well.
2.Take a large size bowl and add potatoes, tomatoes, kidney beans and curd mixture to it. Mix it well.
3.Add pasta and toss the salad well. Keep it in freezer for 15 mins.
4.Garnish it with coriander and oregano and serve cold.

NOTE:-
1.Use fresh curd to make this salad.
2.While boiling pasta, add some salt and oil to it.